Metagenomic Analysis of Subtidal Sediments from Polar and Subpolar Coastal Environments Highlights the Relevance of Anaerobic Hydrocarbon Degradation Processes

• Published in: Microbial Ecology
• Main Authors: Espinola, Fernando Julian, Dionisi, Hebe Monica, Borglin, Sharon, Brislawn, Colin J., Jansson, Janet K., Mac Cormack, Walter Patricio, Carroll, JoLynn, Sjöling, Sara, Lozada, Mariana
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: Springer
• Subjects: ANAEROBIC BIODEGRADATION; BIOMARKER GENES; COLD ENVIRONMENTS; COMMUNITY STRUCTURE; HYDROCARBONS; METAGENOMICS; SUBTIDAL SEDIMENTS; Biología Celular; Microbiología; Ciencias Biológicas; CIENCIAS NATURALES Y EXACTAS; Arctic; Argentina; Argentino; Carroll; Kos; Noruega; Norway; Pacific; Suecia; Dirección Nacional del Antártico; Instituto Antártico Argentino; Arctic University of Norway
• Online Access: http://hdl.handle.net/11336/88333

In this work, we analyzed the community structure and metabolic potential of sediment microbial communities in high-latitude coastal environments subjected to low to moderate levels of chronic pollution. Subtidal sediments from four low-energy inlets located in polar and subpolar regions from both Hemispheres were analyzed using large-scale 16S rRNA gene and metagenomic sequencing. Communities showed high diversity (Shannon’s index 6.8 to 10.2), with distinct phylogenetic structures (<40% shared taxa at the Phylum level among regions) but similar metabolic potential in terms of sequences assigned to KOs. Environmental factors (mainly salinity, temperature, and in less extent organic pollution) were drivers of both phylogenetic and functional traits. Bacterial taxa correlating with hydrocarbon pollution included families of anaerobic or facultative anaerobic lifestyle, such as Desulfuromonadaceae, Geobacteraceae, and Rhodocyclaceae. In accordance, biomarker genes for anaerobic hydrocarbon degradation (bamA, ebdA, bcrA, and bssA) were prevalent, only outnumbered by alkB, and their sequences were taxonomically binned to the same bacterial groups. BssA-assigned metagenomic sequences showed an extremely wide diversity distributed all along the phylogeny known for this gene, including bssA sensu stricto, nmsA, assA, and other clusters from poorly or not yet described variants. This work increases our understanding of microbial community patterns in cold coastal sediments, and highlights the relevance of anaerobic hydrocarbon degradation processes in subtidal environments. Fil: Espinola, Fernando Julian. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Centro Nacional Patagónico. Centro para el Estudio de Sistemas Marinos; Argentina Fil: Dionisi, Hebe Monica. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Centro Nacional Patagónico. Centro para el Estudio de Sistemas Marinos; Argentina Fil: Borglin, Sharon. Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory; Estados Unidos Fil: Brislawn, Colin J. Pacific Northwest National Laboratory; Estados Unidos Fil: Jansson, Janet K. Pacific Northwest National Laboratory; Estados Unidos Fil: Mac Cormack, Walter Patricio. Ministerio de Relaciones Exteriores, Comercio Interno y Culto. Dirección Nacional del Antártico. Instituto Antártico Argentino; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Houssay. Instituto de Nanobiotecnología. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Farmacia y Bioquímica. Instituto de Nanobiotecnología; Argentina Fil: Carroll, JoLynn. The Arctic University of Norway; Noruega Fil: Sjöling, Sara. Södertörn University; Suecia Fil: Lozada, Mariana. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Centro Nacional Patagónico. Centro para el Estudio de Sistemas Marinos; Argentina