Community genomic and proteomic analyses of chemoautotrophic iron-oxidizing "Leptospirillum rubarum" (Group II) and "Leptospirillum ferrodiazotrophum" (Group III) bacteria in acid mine drainage biofilms.
We analyzed near-complete population (composite) genomic sequences for coexisting acidophilic iron-oxidizing Leptospirillum group II and III bacteria (phylum Nitrospirae) and an extrachromosomal plasmid from a Richmond Mine, Iron Mountain, CA, acid mine drainage biofilm. Community proteomic analysis of the genomically characterized sample and two other biofilms identified 64.6% and 44.9% of the predicted proteins of Leptospirillum groups II and III, respectively, and 20% of the predicted plasmid proteins. The bacteria share 92% 16S rRNA gene sequence identity and >60% of their genes, including integrated plasmid-like regions. The extrachromosomal plasmid carries conjugation genes with detectable sequence similarity to genes in the integrated conjugative plasmid, but only those on the extrachromosomal element were identified by proteomics. Both bacterial groups have genes for community-essential functions, including carbon fixation and biosynthesis of vitamins, fatty acids, and biopolymers (including cellulose); proteomic analyses reveal these activities. Both Leptospirillum types have multiple pathways for osmotic protection. Although both are motile, signal transduction and methyl-accepting chemotaxis proteins are more abundant in Leptospirillum group III, consistent with its distribution in gradients within biofilms. Interestingly, Leptospirillum group II uses a methyl-dependent and Leptospirillum group III a methyl-independent response pathway. Although only Leptospirillum group III can fix nitrogen, these proteins were not identified by proteomics. The abundances of core proteins are similar in all communities, but the abundance levels of unique and shared proteins of unknown function vary. Some proteins unique to one organism were highly expressed and may be key to the functional and ecological differentiation of Leptospirillum groups II and III.
University of California-Berkeley, 94720, USA.
Daniela S Aliaga
DS
Goltsman
Vincent J
VJ
Denef
Steven W
SW
Singer
Nathan C
NC
VerBerkmoes
Mark
M
Lefsrud
Ryan S
RS
Mueller
Gregory J
GJ
Dick
Christine L
CL
Sun
Korin E
KE
Wheeler
Adam
A
Zemla
Brett J
BJ
Baker
Loren
L
Hauser
Miriam
M
Land
Manesh B
MB
Shah
Michael P
MP
Thelen
Robert L
RL
Hettich
Jillian F
JF
Banfield
D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D001419:Bacteria / Q000737:chemistry / Q000145:classification* / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D001426:Bacterial Proteins / Q000032:analysis*; D044822:Biodiversity; D018441:Biofilms; D002140:California; D004269:DNA, Bacterial / Q000235:genetics*; D016680:Genome, Bacterial; D008954:Models, Biological; D008958:Models, Molecular; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D010802:Phylogeny; D010957:Plasmids; D020543:Proteome / Q000032:analysis*; D016415:Sequence Alignment; D017422:Sequence Analysis, DNA; D017385:Sequence Homology; D012988:Soil Microbiology
D001426:Bacterial Proteins; D004269:DNA, Bacterial; D020543:Proteome