DOE PAGES title logo U.S. Department of Energy
Office of Scientific and Technical Information

Title: Integration of metagenomic and stable carbon isotope evidence reveals the extent and mechanisms of carbon dioxide fixation in high-temperature microbial communities

Abstract

Biological fixation of CO2 is the primary mechanism of C reduction in natural systems, and provides a diverse suite of organic compounds utilized by chemoorganoheterotrophs. The extent and mechanisms of CO2 fixation were evaluated across a comprehensive set of high-temperature, chemotrophic microbial communities in Yellowstone National Park by combining metagenomic and stable 13C isotope analyses. Fifteen geothermal sites representing three distinct habitat types (iron-oxide mats, anoxic sulfur sediments, and filamentous ‘streamer’ communities) were investigated. Genes of the 3-hydroxypropionate/4-hydroxybutyrate, dicarboxylate/4-hydroxybutyrate, and reverse tricarboxylic acid CO2 fixation pathways were identified in assembled genome sequence corresponding to the predominant Crenarchaeota and Aquificales observed across this habitat range. Stable 13C analyses of dissolved inorganic and organic C (DIC, DOC), and possible landscape C sources were used to interpret the 13C content of microbial community samples. Isotope mixing models showed that the minimum amounts of autotrophic C in microbial biomass were > 50 % in the majority of communities analyzed, but were also dependent on the amounts of heterotrophy and/or accumulation of landscape C. Furthermore, the significance of CO2 as a C source in these communities provides a foundation for understanding metabolic linkages among autotrophs and heterotrophs, community assembly and succession, and the likely coevolutionmore » of deeply-branching thermophiles.« less

Authors:
 [1];  [2];  [3];  [1];  [2];  [3];  [2];  [3]
  1. Montana State Univ., Bozeman, MT (United States); Mercer Univ., Macon, GA (United States)
  2. Pacific Northwest National Lab. (PNNL), Richland, WA (United States)
  3. Montana State Univ., Bozeman, MT (United States)
Publication Date:
Research Org.:
Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL), Richland, WA (United States)
Sponsoring Org.:
USDOE
OSTI Identifier:
1339794
Report Number(s):
PNNL-SA-119791
Journal ID: ISSN 1664-302X; KP1601010
Grant/Contract Number:  
AC05-76RL01830
Resource Type:
Accepted Manuscript
Journal Name:
Frontiers in Microbiology
Additional Journal Information:
Journal Volume: 8; Journal ID: ISSN 1664-302X
Publisher:
Frontiers Research Foundation
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English
Subject:
59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES; autotrophy; CO2 fixation; stable C isotopes; geothermal; Aquificales; Crenarchaeota

Citation Formats

Jennings, Ryan de Montmollin, Moran, James J., Jay, Zackary J., Beam, Jacob P., Whitmore, Laura M., Kozubal, Mark A., Kreuzer, Helen W., and Inskeep, William P. Integration of metagenomic and stable carbon isotope evidence reveals the extent and mechanisms of carbon dioxide fixation in high-temperature microbial communities. United States: N. p., 2017. Web. doi:10.3389/fmicb.2017.00088.
Jennings, Ryan de Montmollin, Moran, James J., Jay, Zackary J., Beam, Jacob P., Whitmore, Laura M., Kozubal, Mark A., Kreuzer, Helen W., & Inskeep, William P. Integration of metagenomic and stable carbon isotope evidence reveals the extent and mechanisms of carbon dioxide fixation in high-temperature microbial communities. United States. https://doi.org/10.3389/fmicb.2017.00088
Jennings, Ryan de Montmollin, Moran, James J., Jay, Zackary J., Beam, Jacob P., Whitmore, Laura M., Kozubal, Mark A., Kreuzer, Helen W., and Inskeep, William P. Fri . "Integration of metagenomic and stable carbon isotope evidence reveals the extent and mechanisms of carbon dioxide fixation in high-temperature microbial communities". United States. https://doi.org/10.3389/fmicb.2017.00088. https://www.osti.gov/servlets/purl/1339794.
@article{osti_1339794,
title = {Integration of metagenomic and stable carbon isotope evidence reveals the extent and mechanisms of carbon dioxide fixation in high-temperature microbial communities},
author = {Jennings, Ryan de Montmollin and Moran, James J. and Jay, Zackary J. and Beam, Jacob P. and Whitmore, Laura M. and Kozubal, Mark A. and Kreuzer, Helen W. and Inskeep, William P.},
abstractNote = {Biological fixation of CO2 is the primary mechanism of C reduction in natural systems, and provides a diverse suite of organic compounds utilized by chemoorganoheterotrophs. The extent and mechanisms of CO2 fixation were evaluated across a comprehensive set of high-temperature, chemotrophic microbial communities in Yellowstone National Park by combining metagenomic and stable 13C isotope analyses. Fifteen geothermal sites representing three distinct habitat types (iron-oxide mats, anoxic sulfur sediments, and filamentous ‘streamer’ communities) were investigated. Genes of the 3-hydroxypropionate/4-hydroxybutyrate, dicarboxylate/4-hydroxybutyrate, and reverse tricarboxylic acid CO2 fixation pathways were identified in assembled genome sequence corresponding to the predominant Crenarchaeota and Aquificales observed across this habitat range. Stable 13C analyses of dissolved inorganic and organic C (DIC, DOC), and possible landscape C sources were used to interpret the 13C content of microbial community samples. Isotope mixing models showed that the minimum amounts of autotrophic C in microbial biomass were > 50 % in the majority of communities analyzed, but were also dependent on the amounts of heterotrophy and/or accumulation of landscape C. Furthermore, the significance of CO2 as a C source in these communities provides a foundation for understanding metabolic linkages among autotrophs and heterotrophs, community assembly and succession, and the likely coevolution of deeply-branching thermophiles.},
doi = {10.3389/fmicb.2017.00088},
journal = {Frontiers in Microbiology},
number = ,
volume = 8,
place = {United States},
year = {Fri Feb 03 00:00:00 EST 2017},
month = {Fri Feb 03 00:00:00 EST 2017}
}

Journal Article:
Free Publicly Available Full Text
Publisher's Version of Record

Citation Metrics:
Cited by: 17 works
Citation information provided by
Web of Science

Save / Share:

Works referenced in this record:

Assembly and Succession of Iron Oxide Microbial Mat Communities in Acidic Geothermal Springs
journal, February 2016


Niche specialization of novel Thaumarchaeota to oxic and hypoxic acidic geothermal springs of Yellowstone National Park
journal, November 2013

  • Beam, Jacob P.; Jay, Zackary J.; Kozubal, Mark A.
  • The ISME Journal, Vol. 8, Issue 4
  • DOI: 10.1038/ismej.2013.193

Ecophysiology of an uncultivated lineage of Aigarchaeota from an oxic, hot spring filamentous ‘streamer’ community
journal, July 2015

  • Beam, Jacob P.; Jay, Zackary J.; Schmid, Markus C.
  • The ISME Journal, Vol. 10, Issue 1
  • DOI: 10.1038/ismej.2015.83

A 3-Hydroxypropionate/4-Hydroxybutyrate Autotrophic Carbon Dioxide Assimilation Pathway in Archaea
journal, December 2007

  • Berg, Ivan A.; Kockelkorn, Daniel; Buckel, Wolfgang
  • Science, Vol. 318, Issue 5857, p. 1782-1786
  • DOI: 10.1126/science.1149976

Autotrophic carbon fixation in archaea
journal, May 2010

  • Berg, Ivan A.; Kockelkorn, Daniel; Ramos-Vera, W. Hugo
  • Nature Reviews Microbiology, Vol. 8, Issue 6, p. 447-460
  • DOI: 10.1038/nrmicro2365

Stable isotopes and biomarkers in microbial ecology
journal, May 2002


CO2 Uptake and Fixation by a Thermoacidophilic Microbial Community Attached to Precipitated Sulfur in a Geothermal Spring
journal, May 2009

  • Boyd, E. S.; Leavitt, W. D.; Geesey, G. G.
  • Applied and Environmental Microbiology, Vol. 75, Issue 13
  • DOI: 10.1128/AEM.02751-08

Microbial H 2 /CO 2 acetogenesis in animal guts: nature and nutritional significance
journal, December 1990


Novel, Deep-Branching Heterotrophic Bacterial Populations Recovered from Thermal Spring Metagenomes
journal, March 2016

  • Colman, Daniel R.; Jay, Zackary J.; Inskeep, William P.
  • Frontiers in Microbiology, Vol. 7
  • DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2016.00304

New Guidelines for δ 13 C Measurements
journal, April 2006

  • Coplen, Tyler B.; Brand, Willi A.; Gehre, Matthias
  • Analytical Chemistry, Vol. 78, Issue 7
  • DOI: 10.1021/ac052027c

The geochemistry of the stable carbon isotopes
journal, February 1953


Old Acetogens, New Light
journal, March 2008

  • Drake, Harold L.; Gößner, Anita S.; Daniel, Steven L.
  • Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences, Vol. 1125, Issue 1, p. 100-128
  • DOI: 10.1196/annals.1419.016

Evolutionary and Ecological Aspects of Photosynthetic Pathway Variation
journal, November 1993


Carbon and hydrogen isotopic compositions of algae and bacteria from hydrothermal environments, Yellowstone National Park
journal, March 1984


Merging isotopes and community genomics in a siliceous sinter-depositing hot spring
journal, January 2011

  • Havig, Jeff R.; Raymond, Jason; Meyer-Dombard, D'Arcy R.
  • Journal of Geophysical Research, Vol. 116, Issue G1
  • DOI: 10.1029/2010JG001415

Carbon isotopic fractionation by Archaeans and other thermophilic prokaryotes
journal, March 2003


A dicarboxylate/4-hydroxybutyrate autotrophic carbon assimilation cycle in the hyperthermophilic Archaeum Ignicoccus hospitalis
journal, May 2008

  • Huber, H.; Gallenberger, M.; Jahn, U.
  • Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, Vol. 105, Issue 22, p. 7851-7856
  • DOI: 10.1073/pnas.0801043105

Aquificales
book, January 2006


Beyond the Calvin Cycle: Autotrophic Carbon Fixation in the Ocean
journal, January 2011


Biomineralization of As(V)-hydrous ferric oxyhydroxide in microbial mats of an acid-sulfate-chloride geothermal spring, Yellowstone National Park
journal, August 2004

  • Inskeep, William P.; Macur, Richard E.; Harrison, Gregory
  • Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta, Vol. 68, Issue 15
  • DOI: 10.1016/j.gca.2003.09.020

Metagenomes from High-Temperature Chemotrophic Systems Reveal Geochemical Controls on Microbial Community Structure and Function
journal, March 2010


Pyrobaculum yellowstonensis Strain WP30 Respires on Elemental Sulfur and/or Arsenate in Circumneutral Sulfidic Geothermal Sediments of Yellowstone National Park
journal, June 2015

  • Jay, Z. J.; Beam, J. P.; Dohnalkova, A.
  • Applied and Environmental Microbiology, Vol. 81, Issue 17
  • DOI: 10.1128/AEM.01095-15

Carbon Dioxide Fixation by Metallosphaera yellowstonensis and Acidothermophilic Iron-Oxidizing Microbial Communities from Yellowstone National Park
journal, February 2014

  • Jennings, R. M.; Whitmore, L. M.; Moran, J. J.
  • Applied and Environmental Microbiology, Vol. 80, Issue 9
  • DOI: 10.1128/AEM.03416-13

Ammonia-oxidizing archaea use the most energy-efficient aerobic pathway for CO2 fixation
journal, May 2014

  • Konneke, M.; Schubert, D. M.; Brown, P. C.
  • Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, Vol. 111, Issue 22
  • DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1402028111

Geoarchaeota: a new candidate phylum in the Archaea from high-temperature acidic iron mats in Yellowstone National Park
journal, November 2012

  • Kozubal, Mark A.; Romine, Margaret; Jennings, Ryan deM
  • The ISME Journal, Vol. 7, Issue 3
  • DOI: 10.1038/ismej.2012.132

Isolation and Distribution of a Novel Iron-Oxidizing Crenarchaeon from Acidic Geothermal Springs in Yellowstone National Park
journal, December 2007

  • Kozubal, M.; Macur, R. E.; Korf, S.
  • Applied and Environmental Microbiology, Vol. 74, Issue 4
  • DOI: 10.1128/AEM.01200-07

IMG: the integrated microbial genomes database and comparative analysis system
journal, December 2011

  • Markowitz, V. M.; Chen, I. -M. A.; Palaniappan, K.
  • Nucleic Acids Research, Vol. 40, Issue D1
  • DOI: 10.1093/nar/gkr1044

The habitat and nature of early life
journal, February 2001

  • Nisbet, E. G.; Sleep, N. H.
  • Nature, Vol. 409, Issue 6823
  • DOI: 10.1038/35059210

Stable Isotopes in Ecosystem Studies
journal, November 1987


Autotrophic Carbon Dioxide Assimilation in Thermoproteales Revisited
journal, May 2009

  • Ramos-Vera, W. H.; Berg, I. A.; Fuchs, G.
  • Journal of Bacteriology, Vol. 191, Issue 13
  • DOI: 10.1128/JB.00145-09

Major contribution of autotrophy to microbial carbon cycling in the deep North Atlantic’s interior
journal, August 2010

  • Reinthaler, Thomas; van Aken, Hendrik M.; Herndl, Gerhard J.
  • Deep Sea Research Part II: Topical Studies in Oceanography, Vol. 57, Issue 16
  • DOI: 10.1016/j.dsr2.2010.02.023

Microbial essentials at hydrothermal vents
journal, April 2000

  • Reysenbach, Anna-Louise; Banta, Amy B.; Boone, David R.
  • Nature, Vol. 404, Issue 6780
  • DOI: 10.1038/35009029

Carbon assimilation by the autotrophic thermophilic archaebacterium Thermoproteus neutrophilus
journal, December 1986

  • Sch�fer, S.; Barkowski, C.; Fuchs, G.
  • Archives of Microbiology, Vol. 146, Issue 3
  • DOI: 10.1007/BF00403234

Nitrosopumilus maritimus genome reveals unique mechanisms for nitrification and autotrophy in globally distributed marine crenarchaea
journal, April 2010

  • Walker, C. B.; de la Torre, J. R.; Klotz, M. G.
  • Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, Vol. 107, Issue 19
  • DOI: 10.1073/pnas.0913533107

The Methanogenic Bacteria
book, January 2006


The geochemistry of the stable carbon isotopes
journal, February 1953


Carbon and hydrogen isotopic compositions of algae and bacteria from hydrothermal environments, Yellowstone National Park
journal, March 1984


Major contribution of autotrophy to microbial carbon cycling in the deep North Atlantic’s interior
journal, August 2010

  • Reinthaler, Thomas; van Aken, Hendrik M.; Herndl, Gerhard J.
  • Deep Sea Research Part II: Topical Studies in Oceanography, Vol. 57, Issue 16
  • DOI: 10.1016/j.dsr2.2010.02.023

Microbial essentials at hydrothermal vents
journal, April 2000

  • Reysenbach, Anna-Louise; Banta, Amy B.; Boone, David R.
  • Nature, Vol. 404, Issue 6780
  • DOI: 10.1038/35009029

The habitat and nature of early life
journal, February 2001

  • Nisbet, E. G.; Sleep, N. H.
  • Nature, Vol. 409, Issue 6823
  • DOI: 10.1038/35059210

Geoarchaeota: a new candidate phylum in the Archaea from high-temperature acidic iron mats in Yellowstone National Park
journal, November 2012

  • Kozubal, Mark A.; Romine, Margaret; Jennings, Ryan deM
  • The ISME Journal, Vol. 7, Issue 3
  • DOI: 10.1038/ismej.2012.132

Niche specialization of novel Thaumarchaeota to oxic and hypoxic acidic geothermal springs of Yellowstone National Park
journal, November 2013

  • Beam, Jacob P.; Jay, Zackary J.; Kozubal, Mark A.
  • The ISME Journal, Vol. 8, Issue 4
  • DOI: 10.1038/ismej.2013.193

Ecophysiology of an uncultivated lineage of Aigarchaeota from an oxic, hot spring filamentous ‘streamer’ community
journal, July 2015

  • Beam, Jacob P.; Jay, Zackary J.; Schmid, Markus C.
  • The ISME Journal, Vol. 10, Issue 1
  • DOI: 10.1038/ismej.2015.83

A dicarboxylate/4-hydroxybutyrate autotrophic carbon assimilation cycle in the hyperthermophilic Archaeum Ignicoccus hospitalis
journal, May 2008

  • Huber, H.; Gallenberger, M.; Jahn, U.
  • Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, Vol. 105, Issue 22, p. 7851-7856
  • DOI: 10.1073/pnas.0801043105

Nitrosopumilus maritimus genome reveals unique mechanisms for nitrification and autotrophy in globally distributed marine crenarchaea
journal, April 2010

  • Walker, C. B.; de la Torre, J. R.; Klotz, M. G.
  • Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, Vol. 107, Issue 19
  • DOI: 10.1073/pnas.0913533107

Ammonia-oxidizing archaea use the most energy-efficient aerobic pathway for CO2 fixation
journal, May 2014

  • Konneke, M.; Schubert, D. M.; Brown, P. C.
  • Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, Vol. 111, Issue 22
  • DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1402028111

IMG: the integrated microbial genomes database and comparative analysis system
journal, December 2011

  • Markowitz, V. M.; Chen, I. -M. A.; Palaniappan, K.
  • Nucleic Acids Research, Vol. 40, Issue D1
  • DOI: 10.1093/nar/gkr1044

Stable isotopes and biomarkers in microbial ecology
journal, May 2002


A 3-Hydroxypropionate/4-Hydroxybutyrate Autotrophic Carbon Dioxide Assimilation Pathway in Archaea
journal, December 2007

  • Berg, Ivan A.; Kockelkorn, Daniel; Buckel, Wolfgang
  • Science, Vol. 318, Issue 5857, p. 1782-1786
  • DOI: 10.1126/science.1149976

Signature Lipids and Stable Carbon Isotope Analyses of Octopus Spring Hyperthermophilic Communities Compared with Those of Aquificales Representatives
journal, November 2001


Evidence for Autotrophic CO2 Fixation via the Reductive Tricarboxylic Acid Cycle by Members of the   Subdivision of Proteobacteria
journal, April 2005


Beyond the Calvin Cycle: Autotrophic Carbon Fixation in the Ocean
journal, January 2011


Stable Isotopes in Ecosystem Studies
journal, November 1987


Evolutionary and Ecological Aspects of Photosynthetic Pathway Variation
journal, November 1993


Old Acetogens, New Light
journal, March 2008

  • Drake, Harold L.; Gößner, Anita S.; Daniel, Steven L.
  • Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences, Vol. 1125, Issue 1, p. 100-128
  • DOI: 10.1196/annals.1419.016

Metagenomes from High-Temperature Chemotrophic Systems Reveal Geochemical Controls on Microbial Community Structure and Function
journal, March 2010


Assembly and Succession of Iron Oxide Microbial Mat Communities in Acidic Geothermal Springs
journal, February 2016


Novel, Deep-Branching Heterotrophic Bacterial Populations Recovered from Thermal Spring Metagenomes
journal, March 2016

  • Colman, Daniel R.; Jay, Zackary J.; Inskeep, William P.
  • Frontiers in Microbiology, Vol. 7
  • DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2016.00304

Works referencing / citing this record:

Occurrence and expression of novel methyl-coenzyme M reductase gene (mcrA) variants in hot spring sediments
journal, August 2017


Multiscale analysis of autotroph-heterotroph interactions in a high-temperature microbial community
journal, September 2018

  • Hunt, Kristopher A.; Jennings, Ryan M.; Inskeep, William P.
  • PLOS Computational Biology, Vol. 14, Issue 9
  • DOI: 10.1371/journal.pcbi.1006431

Hot Spring Microbial Community Composition, Morphology, and Carbon Fixation: Implications for Interpreting the Ancient Rock Record
journal, November 2017

  • Schuler, Caleb G.; Havig, Jeff R.; Hamilton, Trinity L.
  • Frontiers in Earth Science, Vol. 5
  • DOI: 10.3389/feart.2017.00097

Occurrence and expression of novel methyl-coenzyme M reductase gene (mcrA) variants in hot spring sediments
journal, August 2017


Multiscale analysis of autotroph-heterotroph interactions in a high-temperature microbial community
journal, September 2018

  • Hunt, Kristopher A.; Jennings, Ryan M.; Inskeep, William P.
  • PLOS Computational Biology, Vol. 14, Issue 9
  • DOI: 10.1371/journal.pcbi.1006431