title: Metagenome of a versatile chemolithoautotroph from expanding oceanic dead zones.
abstract: Oxygen minimum zones, also known as oceanic "dead zones," are widespread oceanographic features currently expanding because of global warming. Although inhospitable to metazoan life, they support a cryptic microbiota whose metabolic activities affect nutrient and trace gas cycling within the global ocean. Here, we report metagenomic analyses of a ubiquitous and abundant but uncultivated oxygen minimum zone microbe (SUP05) related to chemoautotrophic gill symbionts of deep-sea clams and mussels. The SUP05 metagenome harbors a versatile repertoire of genes mediating autotrophic carbon assimilation, sulfur oxidation, and nitrate respiration responsive to a wide range of water-column redox states. Our analysis provides a genomic foundation for understanding the ecological and biogeochemical role of pelagic SUP05 in oxygen-deficient oceanic waters and its potential sensitivity to environmental changes.
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z4, Canada.
authors.forename: David A
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Walsh
authors.forename: Elena
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Zaikova
authors.forename: Charles G
authors.initials: CG
authors.lastname: Howes
authors.forename: Young C
authors.initials: YC
authors.lastname: Song
authors.forename: Jody J
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Wright
authors.forename: Susannah G
authors.initials: SG
authors.lastname: Tringe
authors.forename: Philippe D
authors.initials: PD
authors.lastname: Tortell
authors.forename: Steven J
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Hallam
mesh_terms: D018533:Biomass; D001955:British Columbia; D002244:Carbon / Q000378:metabolism; D052837:Chemoautotrophic Growth; D017753:Ecosystem; D004734:Energy Metabolism; D020563:Gammaproteobacteria / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology; D020459:Genes, rRNA; D016680:Genome, Bacterial; D054892:Metagenome; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D009566:Nitrates / Q000378:metabolism; D010084:Oxidation-Reduction; D010100:Oxygen / Q000032:analysis*; D010140:Pacific Ocean; D010802:Phylogeny; D012621:Seasons; D012623:Seawater / Q000737:chemistry / Q000382:microbiology*; D013455:Sulfur / Q000378:metabolism; D013559:Symbiosis
chemical_list: D009566:Nitrates; D013455:Sulfur; D002244:Carbon; D010100:Oxygen