Project description:Eukaryotic genomes typically consist of multiple (linear) chromosomes that are replicated from multiple origins. Several hypothetical scenarios have been proposed to account for the evolution of multi-origin/multi-chromosome genomes, which are encountered in modern eukaryotes and archaea. Here we report an example of the generation of a new chromosome in the halophilic archaeon Haloferax volcanii through one of these scenarios: acquisition of new replication origins and splitting of an ancestral chromosome into two replication-competent chromosomes. The multi-origin main chromosome has split into two genome elements via homologous recombination. The newly generated elements possess all the features of bona fide chromosomes. To our knowledge, the spontaneous generation of a new chromosome in prokaryotes without horizontal gene transfer has not been reported previously.
Project description:Chemical communication is crucial in ecosystems with complex microbial assemblages. However, due to archaeal cultivation challenges, our understanding of the structure diversity and function of secondary metabolites (SMs) within archaeal communities is limited compared to the extensively studied and well-documented bacterial counterparts. Our comprehensive investigation into the biosynthetic potential of archaea, combined with metabolic analyses and the first report of heterologous expression in archaea, has unveiled the previously unexplored biosynthetic capabilities and chemical diversity of archaeal ribosomally synthesized and post-translationally modified peptide (RiPP). We have identified twenty-four new lanthipeptides of RiPPs exhibiting unique chemical characteristics, including a novel subfamily featuring an unexplored type with diamino-dicarboxylic (DADC) termini, largely expanding the chemical landscape of archaeal SMs. This sheds light on the chemical novelty of archaeal metabolites and emphasizes their potential as an untapped resource for natural product discovery. Additionally, archaeal lanthipeptides demonstrate specific antagonistic activity against haloarchaea, mediating the unique biotic interaction in the halophilic niche. Furthermore, they showcased a unique ecological role in enhancing the host's motility by inducing the rod-shaped cell morphology and upregulating the archaellum gene flgA1, facilitating the archaeal interaction with abiotic environments. These discoveries broaden our understanding of archaeal chemical language and provide promising prospects for future exploration of SM-mediated interaction.
Project description:Metagenomic studies on prokaryotic diversity of hypersaline soils from the Odiel saltmarshes, South-west Spain, revealed a high proportion of genomic sequences not related to previously cultivated taxa, that might be related to haloarchaea with a high environmental and nutritional flexibility. In this study, we used a culturomics approach in order to isolate new haloarchaeal microorganisms from these hypersaline soils. Four haloarchaeal strains, designated strains F24AT, F28, F27T, and F13T, phylogenetically related to the genus Halomicroarcula, were isolated and characterized in detail. The phylogenomic tree based on the 100 orthologous single-copy genes present in the genomes of these four strains as well as those of the type strains of the species Halomicroarcula pellucida CECT 7537T, Halomicroarcula salina JCM 18369T and Halomicroarcula limicola JCM 18640T, that were determined in this study, revealed that these four new isolates clustered on three groups, with strains F24AT and F28 within a single cluster, and altogether with the species of Halomicroarcula. Additionally, Orthologous Average Nucleotide Identity (OrthoANI), digital DNA-DNA hybridization (dDDH) and Average Amino-acid Identity (AAI) values, likewise phenotypic characteristics, including their polar lipids profiles, permitted to determine that they represent three new species, for which we propose the names Halomicroarcula rubra sp. nov. (type strain F13T), Halomicroarcula nitratireducens sp. nov. (type strain F27T) and Halomicroarcula salinisoli sp. nov. (type strain F24AT). An in deep comparative genomic analysis of species of the genus Halomicroarcula, including their metabolism, their capability to biosynthesize secondary metabolites and their osmoregulatory adaptation mechanisms was carried out. Although they use a salt-in strategy, the identification of the complete pathways for the biosynthesis of the compatible solutes trehalose and glycine betaine, not identified before in any other haloarchaea, might suggest alternative osmoadaptation strategies for this group. This alternative osmoregulatory mechanism would allow this group of haloarchaea to be versatile and eco-physiologically successful in hypersaline environments and would justify the capability of the species of this genus to grow not only on environments with high salt concentrations [up to 30% (w/v) salts], but also under intermediate to low salinities.