Genomic reconstruction of fossil and living microorganisms in ancient Siberian permafrost ...

• Main Authors: Liang, Renxing, Li, Zhou, Lau Vetter, Maggie C. Y., Vishnivetskaya, Tatiana A., Zanina, Oksana G., Lloyd, Karen G., Pfiffner, Susan M., Rivkina, Elizaveta M., Wang, Wei, Wiggins, Jessica, Miller, Jennifer, Hettich, Robert L., Onstott, Tullis C.
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: unknown
• Published: figshare 2021
• Subjects: Microbiology; FOS Biological sciences; Genetics; Geology; FOS Earth and related environmental sciences; permafrost
• Online Access: https://dx.doi.org/10.6084/m9.figshare.c.5427412; https://springernature.figshare.com/collections/Genomic_reconstruction_of_fossil_and_living_microorganisms_in_ancient_Siberian_permafrost/5427412

Abstract Background Total DNA (intracellular, iDNA and extracellular, eDNA) from ancient permafrost records the mixed genetic repository of the past and present microbial populations through geological time. Given the exceptional preservation of eDNA under perennial frozen conditions, typical metagenomic sequencing of total DNA precludes the discrimination between fossil and living microorganisms in ancient cryogenic environments. DNA repair protocols were combined with high throughput sequencing (HTS) of separate iDNA and eDNA fraction to reconstruct metagenome-assembled genomes (MAGs) from ancient microbial DNA entrapped in Siberian coastal permafrost. Results Despite the severe DNA damage in ancient permafrost, the coupling of DNA repair and HTS resulted in a total of 52 MAGs from sediments across a chronosequence (26–120 kyr). These MAGs were compared with those derived from the same samples but without utilizing DNA repair protocols. The MAGs from the youngest stratum showed minimal DNA damage and thus ...