Dataset Information

Phosphate availability affects fixed nitrogen transfer from diazotrophs to their epibionts.

ABSTRACT: Dinitrogen (N₂) fixation is a major source of external nitrogen (N) to aquatic ecosystems and therefore exerts control over productivity. Studies have shown that N₂ -fixers release freshly fixed N into the environment, but the causes for this N release are largely unclear. Here, we show that the availability of phosphate can directly affect the transfer of freshly fixed N to epibionts in filamentous, diazotrophic cyanobacteria. Stable-isotope incubations coupled to single-cell analyses showed that <1% and ~15% of freshly fixed N was transferred to epibionts of Aphanizomenon and Nodularia, respectively, at phosphate scarcity during a summer bloom in the Baltic Sea. When phosphate was added, the transfer of freshly fixed N to epibionts dropped to about half for Nodularia, whereas the release from Aphanizomenon increased slightly. At the same time, the growth rate of Nodularia roughly doubled, indicating that less freshly fixed N was released and was used for biomass production instead. Phosphate scarcity and the resulting release of freshly fixed N could explain the heavy colonization of Nodularia filaments by microorganisms during summer blooms. As such, the availability of phosphate may directly affect the partitioning of fixed N₂ in colonies of diazotrophic cyanobacteria and may impact the interactions with their microbiome.

SUBMITTER: Schoffelen NJ

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6794295 | biostudies-literature | 2019 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

ACCESS DATA

Publications

Phosphate availability affects fixed nitrogen transfer from diazotrophs to their epibionts.

Schoffelen Niels J NJ Mohr Wiebke W Ferdelman Timothy G TG Duerschlag Julia J Littmann Sten S Ploug Helle H Kuypers Marcel M M MMM

The ISME journal 20190627 11

Dinitrogen (N<sub>2</sub>) fixation is a major source of external nitrogen (N) to aquatic ecosystems and therefore exerts control over productivity. Studies have shown that N<sub>2</sub> -fixers release freshly fixed N into the environment, but the causes for this N release are largely unclear. Here, we show that the availability of phosphate can directly affect the transfer of freshly fixed N to epibionts in filamentous, diazotrophic cyanobacteria. Stable-isotope incubations coupled to single-c ...[more]

PMID: 31249392

Similar Datasets

Project description:Plant roots release recent photosynthates into the rhizosphere, accelerating decomposition of organic matter by saprotrophic soil microbes ("rhizosphere priming effect") which consequently increases nutrient availability for plants. However, about 90% of all higher plant species are mycorrhizal, transferring a significant fraction of their photosynthates directly to their fungal partners. Whether mycorrhizal fungi pass on plant-derived carbon (C) to bacteria in root-distant soil areas, i.e., incite a "hyphosphere priming effect," is not known. Experimental evidence for C transfer from mycorrhizal hyphae to soil bacteria is limited, especially for ectomycorrhizal systems. As ectomycorrhizal fungi possess enzymatic capabilities to degrade organic matter themselves, it remains unclear whether they cooperate with soil bacteria by providing photosynthates, or compete for available nutrients. To investigate a possible C transfer from ectomycorrhizal hyphae to soil bacteria, and its response to changing nutrient availability, we planted young beech trees (Fagus sylvatica) into "split-root" boxes, dividing their root systems into two disconnected soil compartments. Each of these compartments was separated from a litter compartment by a mesh penetrable for fungal hyphae, but not for roots. Plants were exposed to a 13C-CO2-labeled atmosphere, while 15N-labeled ammonium and amino acids were added to one side of the split-root system. We found a rapid transfer of recent photosynthates via ectomycorrhizal hyphae to bacteria in root-distant soil areas. Fungal and bacterial phospholipid fatty acid (PLFA) biomarkers were significantly enriched in hyphae-exclusive compartments 24 h after 13C-CO2-labeling. Isotope imaging with nanometer-scale secondary ion mass spectrometry (NanoSIMS) allowed for the first time in situ visualization of plant-derived C and N taken up by an extraradical fungal hypha, and in microbial cells thriving on hyphal surfaces. When N was added to the litter compartments, bacterial biomass, and the amount of incorporated 13C strongly declined. Interestingly, this effect was also observed in adjacent soil compartments where added N was only available for bacteria through hyphal transport, indicating that ectomycorrhizal fungi were acting on soil bacteria. Together, our results demonstrate that (i) ectomycorrhizal hyphae rapidly transfer plant-derived C to bacterial communities in root-distant areas, and (ii) this transfer promptly responds to changing soil nutrient conditions.

Project description:We used cDNA microarray technology to compare the genome-wide expression profiles of a wild type strain (BY4700) (E02, E04, E06) or the isogenic strain deleted of GLN3 and GAT1 genes (E01, E03, E05) grown in YNB medium with glutamine as nitrogen source (M.Gln) against the wild type strain grown in M.Gln after addition of rapamacyn (20 min) (E01, E02), or M.proline (M.Pro) (E03, E04) or after a two hours shift from M.Gln to M.Pro (E05, E06), all growth conditions known to modify the expression of genes involved in nitrogen utilization. These microarrays allowed to identify the set of genes that were up or down-regulated in response to the quality of the nitrogen source. To evaluate whether the majority of genes responding to the nitrogen source were dependent on Gln3 and Gat1, we compared the expression profiles of the wild type strain and of the isogenic strain deleted of GLN3 and GAT1 genes (03167b: ura3, gln3â, gat1â), when both strains were grown on M.Gln + rapamycin (E07), or M.Pro (E08) or after a shift from M.Gln to M.Pro (E09). We also used an independent means of identifying Gln3-Gat1 regulated genes by comparing the expression profiles in wild type and ure2â (4709âURE2) strains on M.Gln medium (E10). The hybridization signal was measured using a GSM418 laser scanner. Image analysis for each array was processed using the GenePix Pro 4.0 (Axon Instruments, Inc.) software package, which measures fluorescence intensity pairs for each gene. Following image acquisition, a visual inspection of the individual spots on each microarray (size, signal-to-noise ratio, background level, and spot uniformity) completed the flagging (present/not present, good/bad) of the data. To maximize sensitivity two scans were made, one at high laser power and high PMT (Photo Multiplier Tube) gain to detect the faintest spots, and a second one using low laser power and a PMT gain avoiding saturation. The values for spots presenting â¥ 5% saturation in the first scan were calculated based on an extrapolation after linear regression analysis of the intensities from both scans. These data were then imported in the GeneSpring 7.1 (Silicon Genetics) software package, applying a per spot per chip intensity-dependent (Lowess) normalization for further analysis.

Dataset Information

Phosphate availability affects fixed nitrogen transfer from diazotrophs to their epibionts.

Publications

Phosphate availability affects fixed nitrogen transfer from diazotrophs to their epibionts.

Similar Datasets

OmicsDI is part of the ELIXIR infrastructure