Potential for Chemolithoautotrophy Among Ubiquitous Bacteria Lineages in the Dark Ocean

Author(s)
Brandon K. Swan, Manuel Martinez-Garcia, Christina Preston, Alexander Sczyrba, Tanja Woyke, Dominique Lamy, Thomas Reinthaler, Nicole J. Poulton, E. Dashiell P. Masland, Monica Lluesma Gomez, Michael E. Sieracki, Edward F. DeLong, Gerhard Herndl, Ramunas Stepanauskas
Abstract

Recent studies suggest that unidentified prokaryotes fix inorganic carbon at globally significant rates in the immense dark ocean. Using single-cell sorting and whole-genome amplification of prokaryotes from two subtropical gyres, we obtained genomic DNA from 738 cells representing most cosmopolitan lineages. Multiple cells of Deltaproteobacteria cluster SAR324, Gammaproteobacteria clusters ARCTIC96BD-19 and Agg47, and some Oceanospirillales from the lower mesopelagic contained ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase-oxygenase and sulfur oxidation genes. These results corroborated community DNA and RNA profiling from diverse geographic regions. The SAR324 genomes also suggested C(1) metabolism and a particle-associated life-style. Microautoradiography and fluorescence in situ hybridization confirmed bicarbonate uptake and particle association of SAR324 cells. Our study suggests potential chemolithoautotrophy in several uncultured Proteobacteria lineages that are ubiquitous in the dark oxygenated ocean and provides new perspective on carbon cycling in the ocean's largest habitat.

Organisation(s)
Functional and Evolutionary Ecology
External organisation(s)
Bigelow Laboratory for Ocean Sciences, Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute, Thomas Jefferson National Accelerator Facility, Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Journal
Science
Volume
333
Pages
1296-1300
No. of pages
5
ISSN
0036-8075
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1126/science.1203690
Publication date
2011
Peer reviewed
Yes
Austrian Fields of Science 2012
106022 Microbiology
Portal url
https://ucrisportal.univie.ac.at/en/publications/849244b3-9e47-43ef-831b-fe33b1c604b9