Anaerobic bacterial degradation of protein and lipid macromolecules in subarctic marine sediment ...

Microorganisms in marine sediments play major roles in marine biogeochemical cycles by mineralizing substantial quantities of organic matter from decaying cells. Proteins and lipids are abundant components of necromass, yet the taxonomic identities of microorganisms that actively degrade them remain...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Pelikan, Claus, Wasmund, Kenneth, Glombitza, Clemens, Hausmann, Bela, Herbold, Craig W., Flieder, Mathias, Loy, Alexander
Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
Language:English
Published: ETH Zurich 2021
Subjects:
Online Access:https://dx.doi.org/10.3929/ethz-b-000446773
http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11850/446773
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Summary:Microorganisms in marine sediments play major roles in marine biogeochemical cycles by mineralizing substantial quantities of organic matter from decaying cells. Proteins and lipids are abundant components of necromass, yet the taxonomic identities of microorganisms that actively degrade them remain poorly resolved. Here, we revealed identities, trophic interactions, and genomic features of bacteria that degraded 13C-labeled proteins and lipids in cold anoxic microcosms containing sulfidic subarctic marine sediment. Supplemented proteins and lipids were rapidly fermented to various volatile fatty acids within 5 days. DNA-stable isotope probing (SIP) suggested Psychrilyobacter atlanticus was an important primary degrader of proteins, and Psychromonas members were important primary degraders of both proteins and lipids. Closely related Psychromonas populations, as represented by distinct 16S rRNA gene variants, differentially utilized either proteins or lipids. DNA-SIP also showed 13C-labeling of various ... : The ISME Journal, 15 (3) ...