Metagenome of a versatile chemolithoautotroph from expanding oceanic dead zones.
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.
Walsh
David A
DA
Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z4, Canada.
Zaikova
Elena
E
Howes
Charles G
CG
Song
Young C
YC
Wright
Jody J
JJ
Tringe
Susannah G
SG
Tortell
Philippe D
PD
Hallam
Steven J
SJ
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
D009566:Nitrates; D013455:Sulfur; D002244:Carbon; D010100:Oxygen