Systems level insights into alternate methane cycling modes phase II: deciphering mechanistic details of interspecies cooperation through manipulation of model microbial communities. Final Technical Report
- Univ. of Washington, Seattle, WA (United States)
Activities from this DOE sponsored project can be divided into three broad areas: (1) Isolation, characterization and sequencing of genomes of novel model organisms representing species active in methane oxidation, as judged from prior functional metagenomics-based experiments; (2) Manipulation of natural communities consuming methane, followed by observation on community dynamics and species succession, under specific environmental pressures such as variable O2 and methane concentrations; and (3) Development of synthetic community models, from simple to complex, followed by observations on community dynamics and transcript and metabolite patterns. From these efforts, we have established several dozen novel model organisms representing different types of methane-utilizing species, different types of methylotrophic non-methane-utilizing guilds, as well as non-methylotrophic heterotrophs of different types, all with sequenced and manually curated genome annotations. From manipulation of natural sediment communities under controlled environmental conditions, we have deduced prominent species dynamics patterns and identified most important players in methane metabolism. We have also observed specific patterns in functional partnerships. Based on the discoveries from natural community manipulations, we have established model synthetic communities, ranging from simple, two-species, to complex, 50-species synthetic communities. The patterns from manipulation of synthetic communities were compared to the ones from natural communities. Synthetic communities were also characterized in terms of differential gene expression in response to community living, highlighting the role of alternative methanol dehydrogenases in community function. These observations were further validated through targeted metabolomics, identifying methanol as one major metabolite shared among community members.
- Research Organization:
- Univ. of Washington, Seattle, WA (United States)
- Sponsoring Organization:
- USDOE Office of Science (SC), Biological and Environmental Research (BER). Biological Systems Science Division
- Contributing Organization:
- University of Washington
- DOE Contract Number:
- SC0010556
- OSTI ID:
- 1410225
- Report Number(s):
- DE-SC0010556
- Resource Relation:
- Related Information: Final Technical Report
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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