Using a systems biology approach to describe the role of dissimilatory phosphite oxidation in the global phosphorus cycle
- Univ. of California, Berkeley, CA (United States)
We investigated the role of redox reactions in the global phosphorous (P) cycle. We identified novel microbial processes responsible for oxidation of reduced phosphorous in the form of phosphite producing bioavailable phosphate. We identified central tenets that define microbial dissimilatory phosphite oxidation (DPO) and the breadth of the taxonomy of DPO microorganisms (DPOM). We demonstrated that this metabolism is vertically evolved from 3.8 GYA contemporaneously with anoxygenic phototrophy. We further demonstrate its occurrence on extant Earth as a primary mechanism driving a phosphorous redox cycle. Finally, we showed that this metabolism is environmentally maintained by the newly described autotrophic Phosphitivorax genus which rely on the reductive glycine pathway for carbon fixation. Our results demonstrate that these species are involved in a complex nutrient-dependent symbiotic relationship with their community in which they provide the fixed carbon to support the heterotrophic community and in return receive prerequisite corrinoids to maintain their activities.
- Research Organization:
- Univ. of California, Berkeley, CA (United States).
- Sponsoring Organization:
- USDOE Office of Science (SC), Biological and Environmental Research (BER)
- DOE Contract Number:
- SC0020156
- OSTI ID:
- 2324750
- Report Number(s):
- DOE-UCBERKELEY-SC0020156
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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