Project description:Bacterium Sphingomonas glacialis AAP5 isolated from the alpine lake Gossenköllesee contains genes for anoxygenic phototrophy as well as proton-pumping xanthorhodopsin. Here we show that AAP5 expresses xanthorhodopsin when illuminated at temperatures below 16°C. In contrast bacteriochlorophyll-containing reaction centers are expressed between 4 and 22°C in the dark. Thus, cells grown at lower temperature under natural light-dark cycle produced both photosystems. The purified xanthorhodopsin contains carotenoid nostoxanthin serving as an auxiliary antenna and performs the standard photocycle. The xanthorhodopsin-containing cells reduced upon illumination their respiration, increased their ATP synthesis and produced more biomass. This documents that the harvested light energy was utilized in the metabolism, which can represent a competitive advance under carbon-limiting conditions. The presence of Sphingomonas bacteria with dual phototrophy was verified in the metagenomes collected from lake Gossenköllesee. This unique trait may represent a metabolic advantage in alpine lakes where photoheterotrophic organisms facelimited organic substrates, low temperature, and extreme changes in irradiance.
2022-05-10 | GSE196609 | GEO
Project description:Bacterioplankton community composition in alpine lakes
Project description:Polynucleobacter asymbioticus strain QLW-P1DMWA-1T represents a group of highly successful heterotrophic planktonic bacteria, dwelling in freshwater systems (lakes, ponds, and streams) across all climatic zones and across all continents. This includes habitats characterised by strongly fluctuating environmental conditions. So the experiments were designed to mimick winter and summer scenarios with additional impact of UV irradiation. Comparative transcriptomic studies were conducted to analyse gene-expression levels in contrasting experimental conditions. Overall, molecular candidates were revealed that may contribute in rapid acclimatisation of this strain in their immediate environment.
Project description:Here, we applied a microarray-based metagenomics technology termed GeoChip 5.0 to examined functional gene structure of microbes in four lakes at low and high elevations of approximately 530 and 4,600 m a.s.l., respectively.
Project description:Xiangjiang River (Hunan, China) has been contaminated with heavy metal for several decades by surrounding factories. However, little is known about the influence of a gradient of heavy metal contamination on the diversity, structure of microbial functional gene in sediment. To deeply understand the impact of heavy metal contamination on microbial community, a comprehensive functional gene array (GeoChip 5.0) has been used to study the functional genes structure, composition, diversity and metabolic potential of microbial community from three heavy metal polluted sites of Xiangjiang River. Three groups of samples, A, B and C. Every group has 3 replicates.
Project description:Xiangjiang River (Hunan, China) has been contaminated with heavy metal for several decades by surrounding factories. However, little is known about the influence of a gradient of heavy metal contamination on the diversity, structure of microbial functional gene in sediment. To deeply understand the impact of heavy metal contamination on microbial community, a comprehensive functional gene array (GeoChip 5.0) has been used to study the functional genes structure, composition, diversity and metabolic potential of microbial community from three heavy metal polluted sites of Xiangjiang River.
Project description:The consistent cold temperatures and large amount of precipitation in the Olympic and Cascade ranges of Washington State are thought to increase atmospheric deposition of contaminants in these high elevation locations. Total mercury and 28 organochlorine compounds were measured in composite, whole fish samples collected from 14 remote lakes in the Olympic, Mt. Rainer, and North Cascades National Parks. Mercury was detected in fish from all lakes sampled and ranged in concentration from 17 to 262 ug/kg wet weight. Only two organochlorines, total polychlorinated biphenyls (tPCB) and dichlorodiphenyldichloroethylene (DDE), were detected in fish tissues (concentrations <25 ug/kg wet weight). No organochlorines were detected in sediments (MRL ≈1-5 ug/kg), while median total and methyl mercury in sediments were 30.4 and 0.34 ug/kg (dry weight), respectively. Using a targeted rainbow trout cDNA microarray with known genes, we detected significant differences in liver transcriptional responses, including metabolic, endocrine, and immune-related genes, in fish collected from a contaminated lake compared to a lake with a lower contaminant load. Overall, our results suggest that local urban areas are contributing to the observed contaminant patterns, while the transcriptional changes point to a biological response associated with exposure to these contaminants in fish. Specifically, the gene expression pattern leads us to hypothesize a role for mercury in disrupting the metabolic and reproductive pathways in fish from high elevation lakes in western Washington. Keywords: High altitude lakes, mercury, salmonids, organochlorines