Formation of Zn- and Fe-sulfides near hydrothermal vents at the Eastern Lau Spreading Center: implications for sulfide bioavailability to chemoautotrophs

Tsuneonella suprasediminis sp. nov., isolated from the Pacific Ocean

A Gram-stain-negative, rod-shaped and aerobic bacterial strain, named Ery12^T, was isolated from the overlying water of the Lau Basin in the Southwest Pacific Ocean. Strain Ery12^T showed high 16S rRNA gene sequences similarity to Tsuneonella flava MS1-4^T (99.9 %), T. mangrovi MCCC 1K03311^T (98.1 %), Altererythrobacter ishigakiensis NBRC 107699^T (97.3 %) and exhibited ≤97.0 % sequence similarity with other type strains of species with validly published names. Growth was observed in media with 0-10.0 % NaCl (optimum 0-1.0 %, w/v), pH 5.0-9.5 (optimum 6.0-7.0) and 10-42 °C (optimum 30-37 °C). The predominant respiratory quinone was ubiquinone 10 (Q-10). The major cellular fatty acid was summed feature 8 (C_18 : 1  ω7c and/or C_18 : 1  ω6c). The major polar lipids were sphingoglycolipid, phosphatidyglycerol, diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylethanolamine, phosphatidylcholine, three unidentified glycolipids, one unidentified aminoglycolipid and one unidentified lipid. The DNA G+C content was 60.8 %. The ANI and in silico DDH values between strain Ery12^T and the type strains of its closely related species were 71.0- 91.8 % and 19.5- 44.6 %, respectively. According to the phenotypic, chemotaxonomic, phylogenetic and genomic data, strain Ery12^T represents a novel species of the genus Tsuneonella, for which the name Tsuneonella suprasediminis is proposed. The type strain is Ery12^T (=CGMCC 1.16500 ^T=MCCC 1A04421^T=KCTC 62388^T). We further propose to reclassify Altererythrobacter rhizovicinus and Altererythrobacter spongiae as Pelagerythrobacter rhizovicinus comb. nov. and Altericroceibacterium spongiae comb. nov., respectively.

A voltammetric investigation of the sulfidation of silver nanoparticles by zinc sulfide

Silver nanoparticles (Ag NPs) are among the most common forms of nanoparticles in consumer products, yet the environmental implications of their widespread use remain unclear due to uncertainties about their fate. Because sulfidation of Ag NPs results in the formation of a stable silver sulfide (Ag₂S) product, it is likely an important removal mechanism of bioavailable silver in natural waters. In addition to sulfide, the complete conversion of Ag NPs to Ag₂S will require dissolved oxygen or some other oxidant so dispersed metal sulfides may be an important pool of reactive sulfide for such reactions in oxygenated systems. The reaction of Ag NPs with zinc sulfide (ZnS) was investigated using a voltammetric method, anodic stripping voltammetry (ASV). ASV provided sensitive, in situ measurements of the release of zinc (Zn²⁺) cations resulting from the cation exchange reaction between Ag NPs and ZnS. The effects of Ag NP size and surface coatings on the initial rates of sulfidation by ZnS were examined. Sulfidation of smaller Ag NPs generally occurred faster and to a greater extent due to their larger relative surface areas. Sulfidation of Ag NPs capped by citrate and lipoic acid occurred more rapidly relative to polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) and branched polyethylene (BPEI). This study demonstrates the utility of voltammetry for such investigations and provides insights into important factors controlling Ag NP sulfidation such as availability of dissolved oxygen, Ag NP size and Ag NP surface coating. Furthermore, this work demonstrates the importance of cation exchange reactions between silver and metal sulfides, and how the environmental release of Ag NPs could alter the speciation of other metals of environmental significance.

Nearest vent, dearest friend: biodiversity of Tiancheng vent field reveals cross-ridge similarities in the Indian Ocean

Biodiversity of hydrothermal vents in the Indian Ocean, particularly those on the Southwest Indian Ridge (SWIR), are still relatively poorly understood. The Tiancheng field on the SWIR was initially reported with only a low-temperature diffuse flow venting area, but here we report two new active areas, including a chimney emitting high-temperature vent fluids. Biological sampling in these new sites doubled the known megafauna and macrofauna richness reported from Tiancheng. Significantly, we found several iconic species, such as the scaly-foot snail and the first Alviniconcha population on the SWIR. Tiancheng shares a high proportion of taxa with vents on the Central Indian Ridge (CIR) and lacks a number of key taxa that characterize other vents investigated so far on the SWIR. Population genetics of the scaly-foot snail confirmed this, as the Tiancheng population was clustered with populations from the CIR, showing low connectivity with the Longqi field. Unlike the previously examined populations, scales of the Tiancheng scaly-foot snail were coated in zinc sulfide, although this results only from precipitation. The close connection between Tiancheng and CIR vents indicates that the dispersal barrier for vent endemic species is not the Rodriguez Triple Junction as previously suggested but the transformation faults between Tiancheng and Longqi, warranting further studies on deep currents in this area to resolve the key barrier, which has important implications for biological conservation.

Geobiological feedbacks, oxygen, and the evolution of nitrogenase

Biological nitrogen fixation via the activity of nitrogenase is one of the most important biological innovations, allowing for an increase in global productivity that eventually permitted the emergence of higher forms of life. The complex metalloenzyme termed nitrogenase contains complex iron-sulfur cofactors. Three versions of nitrogenase exist that differ mainly by the presence or absence of a heterometal at the active site metal cluster (either Mo or V). Mo-dependent nitrogenase is the most common while V-dependent or heterometal independent (Fe-only) versions are often termed alternative nitrogenases since they have apparent lower activities for N₂ reduction and are expressed in the absence of Mo. Phylogenetic data indicates that biological nitrogen fixation emerged in an anaerobic, thermophilic ancestor of hydrogenotrophic methanogens and later diversified via lateral gene transfer into anaerobic bacteria, and eventually aerobic bacteria including Cyanobacteria. Isotopic evidence suggests that nitrogenase activity existed at 3.2 Ga, prior to the advent of oxygenic photosynthesis and rise of oxygen in the atmosphere, implying the presence of favorable environmental conditions for oxygen-sensitive nitrogenase to evolve. Following the proliferation of oxygenic phototrophs, diazotrophic organisms had to develop strategies to protect nitrogenase from oxygen inactivation and generate the right balance of low potential reducing equivalents and cellular energy for growth and nitrogen fixation activity. Here we review the fundamental advances in our understanding of biological nitrogen fixation in the context of the emergence, evolution, and taxonomic distribution of nitrogenase, with an emphasis placed on key events associated with its emergence and diversification from anoxic to oxic environments.

Hydrogen sulfide, reactive sulfur species and coping with reactive oxygen species

Life began in a ferruginous (anoxic and Fe²⁺ dominated) world around 3.8 billion years ago (bya). Hydrogen sulfide (H₂S) and other sulfur molecules from hydrothermal vents and other fissures provided many key necessities for life's origin including catalytic platforms (primordial enzymes) that also served as primitive boundaries (cell walls), substrates for organic synthesis and a continuous source of energy in the form of reducing equivalents. Anoxigenic photosynthesis oxidizing H₂S followed within a few hundred million years and laid the metabolic groundwork for oxidative photosynthesis some half-billion years later that slightly and episodically increased atmospheric oxygen around 2.3 bya. This oxidized terrestrial sulfur to sulfate which was washed to the sea where it was reduced creating vast euxinic (anoxic and sulfidic) areas. It was in this environment that eukaryotic cells appeared around 1.5 bya and where they evolved for nearly 1 billion additional years. Oxidative photosynthesis finally oxidized the oceans and around 0.6 bya oxygen levels in the atmosphere and oceans began to rise toward present day levels. This is purported to have been a life-threatening event due to the prevalence of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and thus necessitated the elaboration of chemical and enzymatic antioxidant mechanisms. However, these antioxidants initially appeared around the time of anoxigenic photosynthesis suggesting a commitment to metabolism of reactive sulfur species (RSS). This review examines these events and suggests that many of the biological attributes assigned to ROS may, in fact, be due to RSS. This is underscored by observations that ROS and RSS are chemically similar, often indistinguishable by analytical methods and the fact that the bulk of biochemical and physiological experiments are performed in unphysiologically oxic environments where ROS are artifactually favored over RSS.

H2S events in the Peruvian oxygen minimum zone facilitate enhanced dissolved Fe concentrations

Dissolved iron (DFe) concentrations in oxygen minimum zones (OMZs) of Eastern Boundary Upwelling Systems are enhanced as a result of high supply rates from anoxic sediments. However, pronounced variations in DFe concentrations in anoxic coastal waters of the Peruvian OMZ indicate that there are factors in addition to dissolved oxygen concentrations (O₂) that control Fe cycling. Our study demonstrates that sediment-derived reduced Fe (Fe(II)) forms the main DFe fraction in the anoxic/euxinic water column off Peru, which is responsible for DFe accumulations of up to 200 nmol L^-1. Lowest DFe values were observed in anoxic shelf waters in the presence of nitrate and nitrite. This reflects oxidation of sediment-sourced Fe(II) associated with nitrate/nitrite reduction and subsequent removal as particulate Fe(III) oxyhydroxides. Unexpectedly, the highest DFe levels were observed in waters with elevated concentrations of hydrogen sulfide (up to 4 µmol L^-1) and correspondingly depleted nitrate/nitrite concentrations (<0.18 µmol L^-1). Under these conditions, Fe removal was reduced through stabilization of Fe(II) as aqueous iron sulfide (FeS_aqu) which comprises complexes (e.g., FeSH⁺) and clusters (e.g., Fe₂S₂|4H₂O). Sulfidic events on the Peruvian shelf consequently enhance Fe availability, and may increase in frequency in future due to projected expansion and intensification of OMZs.

Influence of Structural Defects on Biomineralized ZnS Nanoparticle Dissolution: An in-Situ Electron Microscopy Study

The dissolution of metal sulfides, such as ZnS, is an important biogeochemical process affecting fate and transport of trace metals in the environment. However, current studies of in situ dissolution of metal sulfides and the effects of structural defects on dissolution are lacking. Here we have examined the dissolution behavior of ZnS nanoparticles synthesized via several abiotic and biological pathways. Specifically, we have examined biogenic ZnS nanoparticles produced by an anaerobic, metal-reducing bacterium Thermoanaerobacter sp. X513 in a Zn-amended, thiosulfate-containing growth medium in the presence or absence of silver (Ag), and abiogenic ZnS nanoparticles were produced by mixing an aqueous Zn solution with either H₂S-rich gas or Na₂S solution. The size distribution, crystal structure, aggregation behavior, and internal defects of the synthesized ZnS nanoparticles were examined using high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (TEM) coupled with X-ray energy dispersive spectroscopy. The characterization results show that both the biogenic and abiogenic samples were dominantly composed of sphalerite. In the absence of Ag, the biogenic ZnS nanoparticles were significantly larger (i.e., ∼10 nm) than the abiogenic ones (i.e., ∼3-5 nm) and contained structural defects (e.g., twins and stacking faults). The presence of trace Ag showed a restraining effect on the particle size of the biogenic ZnS, resulting in quantum-dot-sized nanoparticles (i.e., ∼3 nm). In situ dissolution experiments for the synthesized ZnS were conducted with a liquid-cell TEM (LCTEM), and the primary factors (i.e., the presence or absence structural defects) were evaluated for their effects on the dissolution behavior using the biogenic and abiogenic ZnS nanoparticle samples with the largest average particle size. Analysis of the dissolution results (i.e., change in particle radius with time) using the Kelvin equation shows that the defect-bearing biogenic ZnS nanoparticles (γ = 0.799 J/m²) have a significantly higher surface energy than the abiogenic ZnS nanoparticles (γ = 0.277 J/m²). Larger defect-bearing biogenic ZnS nanoparticles were thus more reactive than the smaller quantum-dot-sized ZnS nanoparticles. These findings provide new insight into the factors that affect the dissolution of metal sulfide nanoparticles in relevant natural and engineered scenarios, and have important implications for tracking the fate and transport of sulfide nanoparticles and associated metal ions in the environment. Moreover, our study exemplified the use of an in situ method (i.e., LCTEM) to investigate nanoparticle behavior (e.g., dissolution) in aqueous solutions.

The Role of Hydrogen Sulfide in Evolution and the Evolution of Hydrogen Sulfide in Metabolism and Signaling

The chemical versatility of sulfur and its abundance in the prebiotic Earth as reduced sulfide (H2S) implicate this molecule in the origin of life 3.8 billion years ago and also as a major source of energy in the first seven-eighths of evolution. The tremendous increase in ambient oxygen ∼600 million years ago brought an end to H2S as an energy source, and H2S-dependent animals either became extinct, retreated to isolated sulfide niches, or adapted. The first 3 billion years of molecular tinkering were not lost, however, and much of this biochemical armamentarium easily adapted to an oxic environment where it contributes to metabolism and signaling even in humans. This review examines the role of H2S in evolution and the evolution of H2S metabolism and signaling.

Mercury accumulation in hydrothermal vent mollusks from the southern Tonga Arc, southwestern Pacific Ocean

We provide the mercury (Hg) and monomethylmercury (MMHg) levels of the plume water, sulfide ore, sediment, and mollusks located at the hydrothermal vent fields of the southern Tonga Arc, where active volcanism and intense seismic activity occur frequently. Our objectives were: (1) to address the potential release of Hg from hydrothermal fluids and (2) to examine the distribution of Hg and MMHg levels in hydrothermal mollusks (mussels and snails) harboring chemotrophic bacteria. While high concentrations of Hg in the sediment and Hg, As, and Sb in the sulfide ore indicates that their source is likely hydrothermal fluids, the MMHg concentration in the sediment was orders of magnitude lower than the Hg (<0.001%). It suggests that Hg methylation may have not been favorable in the vent field sediment. In addition, Hg concentrations in the mollusks were much higher (10-100 times) than in other hydrothermal vent environments, indicating that organisms located at the Tonga Arc are exposed to exceedingly high Hg levels. While Hg concentration was higher in the gills and digestive glands than in the mantles and residues of snails and mussels, the MMHg concentrations in the gills and digestive glands were orders of magnitude lower (0.004-0.04%) than Hg concentrations. In summary, our results suggest that the release of Hg from the hydrothermal vent fields of the Tonga Arc and subsequent bioaccumulation are substantial, but not for MMHg.

Spatially resolved sampling reveals dynamic microbial communities in rising hydrothermal plumes across a back-arc basin

Within hydrothermal plumes, chemosynthetic processes and microbe-mineral interactions drive primary productivity in deep-ocean food webs and may influence transport of elements such as iron. However, the source of microorganisms in plumes and the factors governing how these communities assemble are poorly understood, in part due to lack of data from early stages of plume formation. In this study, we examined microbial community composition of rising hydrothermal plumes from five vent fields along the Eastern Lau Spreading Center. Seafloor and plume microbial communities were significantly dissimilar and shared few phylotypes. Plume communities were highly similar to each other with significant differences in community membership only between Kilo Moana and Mariner, two vents that are separated by extremes in depth, latitude and geochemistry. Systematic sampling of waters surrounding the vents revealed that species richness and phylogenetic diversity was typically highest near the vent orifice, implying mixing of microbial communities from the surrounding habitats. Above-plume background communities were primarily dominated by SAR11, SAR324 and MG-I Archaea, while SUP05, Sulfurovum, Sulfurimonas, SAR324 and Alteromonas were abundant in plume and near-bottom background communities. These results show that the ubiquitous water-column microorganisms populate plume communities, and that the composition of background seawater exerts primary influence on plume community composition, with secondary influence from geochemical and/or physical properties of vents. Many of these pervasive deep-ocean organisms are capable of lithotrophy, suggesting that they are poised to use inorganic electron donors encountered in hydrothermal plumes.

Authigenic iron oxide proxies for marine zinc over geological time and implications for eukaryotic metallome evolution

Here, we explore enrichments in paleomarine Zn as recorded by authigenic iron oxides including Precambrian iron formations, ironstones, and Phanerozoic hydrothermal exhalites. This compilation of new and literature-based iron formation analyses track dissolved Zn abundances and constrain the magnitude of the marine reservoir over geological time. Overall, the iron formation record is characterized by a fairly static range in Zn/Fe ratios throughout the Precambrian, consistent with the shale record (Scott et al., 2013, Nature Geoscience, 6, 125-128). When hypothetical partitioning scenarios are applied to this record, paleomarine Zn concentrations within about an order of magnitude of modern are indicated. We couple this examination with new chemical speciation models to interpret the iron formation record. We present two scenarios: first, under all but the most sulfidic conditions and with Zn-binding organic ligand concentrations similar to modern oceans, the amount of bioavailable Zn remained relatively unchanged through time. Late proliferation of Zn in eukaryotic metallomes has previously been linked to marine Zn biolimitation, but under this scenario the expansion in eukaryotic Zn metallomes may be better linked to biologically intrinsic evolutionary factors. In this case, zinc's geochemical and biological evolution may be decoupled and viewed as a function of increasing need for genome regulation and diversification of Zn-binding transcription factors. In the second scenario, we consider Archean organic ligand complexation in such excess that it may render Zn bioavailability low. However, this is dependent on Zn-organic ligand complexes not being bioavailable, which remains unclear. In this case, although bioavailability may be low, sphalerite precipitation is prevented, thereby maintaining a constant Zn inventory throughout both ferruginous and euxinic conditions. These results provide new perspectives and constraints on potential couplings between the trajectory of biological and marine geochemical coevolution.

Evidence for the role of endosymbionts in regional-scale habitat partitioning by hydrothermal vent symbioses

Deep-sea hydrothermal vents are populated by dense communities of animals that form symbiotic associations with chemolithoautotrophic bacteria. To date, our understanding of which factors govern the distribution of host/symbiont associations (or holobionts) in nature is limited, although host physiology often is invoked. In general, the role that symbionts play in habitat utilization by vent holobionts has not been thoroughly addressed. Here we present evidence for symbiont-influenced, regional-scale niche partitioning among symbiotic gastropods (genus Alviniconcha) in the Lau Basin. We extensively surveyed Alviniconcha holobionts from four vent fields using quantitative molecular approaches, coupled to characterization of high-temperature and diffuse vent-fluid composition using gastight samplers and in situ electrochemical analyses, respectively. Phylogenetic analyses exposed cryptic host and symbiont diversity, revealing three distinct host types and three different symbiont phylotypes (one ε-proteobacteria and two γ-proteobacteria) that formed specific associations with one another. Strikingly, we observed that holobionts with ε-proteobacterial symbionts were dominant at the northern fields, whereas holobionts with γ-proteobacterial symbionts were dominant in the southern fields. This pattern of distribution corresponds to differences in the vent geochemistry that result from deep subsurface geological and geothermal processes. We posit that the symbionts, likely through differences in chemolithoautotrophic metabolism, influence niche utilization among these holobionts. The data presented here represent evidence linking symbiont type to habitat partitioning among the chemosynthetic symbioses at hydrothermal vents and illustrate the coupling between subsurface geothermal processes and niche availability.

On the origin of life in the zinc world: 1. Photosynthesizing, porous edifices built of hydrothermally precipitated zinc sulfide as cradles of life on Earth

BACKGROUND

The complexity of the problem of the origin of life has spawned a large number of possible evolutionary scenarios. Their number, however, can be dramatically reduced by the simultaneous consideration of various bioenergetic, physical, and geological constraints.

RESULTS

This work puts forward an evolutionary scenario that satisfies the known constraints by proposing that life on Earth emerged, powered by UV-rich solar radiation, at photosynthetically active porous edifices made of precipitated zinc sulfide (ZnS) similar to those found around modern deep-sea hydrothermal vents. Under the high pressure of the primeval, carbon dioxide-dominated atmosphere ZnS could precipitate at the surface of the first continents, within reach of solar light. It is suggested that the ZnS surfaces (1) used the solar radiation to drive carbon dioxide reduction, yielding the building blocks for the first biopolymers, (2) served as templates for the synthesis of longer biopolymers from simpler building blocks, and (3) prevented the first biopolymers from photo-dissociation, by absorbing from them the excess radiation. In addition, the UV light may have favoured the selective enrichment of photostable, RNA-like polymers. Falsification tests of this hypothesis are described in the accompanying article (A.Y. Mulkidjanian, M.Y. Galperin, Biology Direct 2009, 4:27).

CONCLUSION

The suggested "Zn world" scenario identifies the geological conditions under which photosynthesizing ZnS edifices of hydrothermal origin could emerge and persist on primordial Earth, includes a mechanism of the transient storage and utilization of solar light for the production of diverse organic compounds, and identifies the driving forces and selective factors that could have promoted the transition from the first simple, photostable polymers to more complex living organisms.

Precipitation of mercuric sulfide nanoparticles in NOM-containing water: implications for the natural environment

Speciation of mercury(II) in the aquatic environment and coordination to natural organic matter (NOM) and sulfides governs the bioavailability and mobility of mercury in water and sediment. While previous studies on aqueous Hg(II) speciation have focused on competitive binding of dissolved species, the purpose of this study was to explore the potential for HgS nanoparticles that coprecipitate with NOM in solution. Dynamic light scattering was used to monitor the size of HgS colloids growing over time. The results indicated that humic substances decreased observed growth rates of particles and stabilized aggregates smaller than 0.2 microm for at least 8 h. Thiol-containing organic acids such as cysteine and thioglycolate also decreased growth of HgS particles. Growth rates were also monitored as a function of monovalent electrolyte concentration, humic type, and humic concentration. HgS particles that formed in the presence of humics and thiolates were able to pass through conventional filters (<0.2 micro/m) and appeared to consist of aggregates of nanocrystals in TEM images. Furthermore, 96% of HgS aggregates were removed from aqueous suspension when exposed to octanol, indicating that the particles could be incorrectly identified as dissolved complexes (e.g., HgS(0)(aq)) in bioavailability models. Hg speciation calculations were conducted to consider lower Hg concentrations observed in sediment porewater. While the calculations depended on Hg binding constants that can vary by orders of magnitude, the results indicated that HgS(s) could be oversaturated in filtered porewater, particularly at low dissolved sulfide levels (micromolar or lower). These insights suggest that nanoparticulate HgS can exist in surface waters and porewater of contaminated sediments as a result of kinetically hindered aggregation/precipitation reactions. Further studies are neededto addressthe importance of nanoscale HgS particles for governing the reactivity and bioavailability of mercury in the environment.

Precipitation and growth of zinc sulfide nanoparticles in the presence of thiol-containing natural organic ligands

In sulfidic aquatic systems, metal sulfides can control the mobility and bioavailability of trace metal pollutants such as zinc, mercury, and silver. Nanoparticles of ZnS and other metal sulfides are known to exist in oxic and anoxic waters. However, the processes that lead to their persistence in the aquatic environment are relatively unknown. The objective of this study was to evaluate the importance of dissolved natural organics in stabilizing nanoparticulate ZnS that precipitates under environmentally relevant conditions. Precipitation and growth of ZnS particles were investigated in the presence of dissolved humic acid and low-molecular weight organic acids that are prevalent in sediment porewater. Dynamic light scattering was used to monitor the hydrodynamic diameter of particles precipitating in laboratory solutions. Zn speciation was also measured by filtering the ZnS solutions (< 0.2 microm) and using anodic stripping voltammetry to confirm that Zn was coordinated to sulfide during the precipitation experiments and not to the dissolved organic ligands. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and electron microscopy were used to confirm that amorphous particles containing Zn and S were precipitating in the suspensions. Observed growth rates of ZnS particles varied by orders of magnitude, depending on the type and concentration of organic ligand in solution. In the presence of humic acid and thiol-containing ligands (cysteine, glutathione, and thioglycolate), observed growth rates decreased by 1-3 orders of magnitude relative to controls without the ligands. In contrast, growth rates of the particles were consistently within 1 order of magnitude of the ligand-free control when oxygen- and amine-containing ligands (oxalate, serine, and glycolate) were present Furthermore, particle growth rates decreased with an increase in thiol concentration and increased with NaNO3 electrolyte concentration. These studies suggest that specific surface interactions with thiol-containing organics may be one factor that contributes to the persistence of naturally occurring and anthropogenic nanoparticles of ZnS and other metal sulfides in the aquatic environment.