Divergent Genomic Adaptations in the Microbiomes of Arctic Subzero Sea-Ice and Cryopeg Brines
Subzero hypersaline brines are liquid microbial habitats within otherwise frozen environments, where concentrated dissolved salts prevent freezing. Such extreme conditions presumably require unique microbial adaptations, and possibly altered ecologies, but specific strategies remain largely unknown....
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ftdoajarticles:oai:doaj.org/article:b3a843e54d5548e6b0e39d35f33c536c 2023-05-15T15:13:03+02:00 Divergent Genomic Adaptations in the Microbiomes of Arctic Subzero Sea-Ice and Cryopeg Brines Josephine Z. Rapp Matthew B. Sullivan Jody W. Deming 2021-07-01T00:00:00Z https://doi.org/10.3389/fmicb.2021.701186 https://doaj.org/article/b3a843e54d5548e6b0e39d35f33c536c EN eng Frontiers Media S.A. https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fmicb.2021.701186/full https://doaj.org/toc/1664-302X 1664-302X doi:10.3389/fmicb.2021.701186 https://doaj.org/article/b3a843e54d5548e6b0e39d35f33c536c Frontiers in Microbiology, Vol 12 (2021) cryopeg sea ice metagenomics metatranscriptomics microbial ecology hypersalinity Microbiology QR1-502 article 2021 ftdoajarticles https://doi.org/10.3389/fmicb.2021.701186 2022-12-31T12:45:53Z Subzero hypersaline brines are liquid microbial habitats within otherwise frozen environments, where concentrated dissolved salts prevent freezing. Such extreme conditions presumably require unique microbial adaptations, and possibly altered ecologies, but specific strategies remain largely unknown. Here we examined prokaryotic taxonomic and functional diversity in two seawater-derived subzero hypersaline brines: first-year sea ice, subject to seasonally fluctuating conditions; and ancient cryopeg, under relatively stable conditions geophysically isolated in permafrost. Overall, both taxonomic composition and functional potential were starkly different. Taxonomically, sea-ice brine communities (∼105 cells mL–1) had greater richness, more diversity and were dominated by bacterial genera, including Polaribacter, Paraglaciecola, Colwellia, and Glaciecola, whereas the more densely inhabited cryopeg brines (∼108 cells mL–1) lacked these genera and instead were dominated by Marinobacter. Functionally, however, sea ice encoded fewer accessory traits and lower average genomic copy numbers for shared traits, though DNA replication and repair were elevated; in contrast, microbes in cryopeg brines had greater genetic versatility with elevated abundances of accessory traits involved in sensing, responding to environmental cues, transport, mobile elements (transposases and plasmids), toxin-antitoxin systems, and type VI secretion systems. Together these genomic features suggest adaptations and capabilities of sea-ice communities manifesting at the community level through seasonal ecological succession, whereas the denser cryopeg communities appear adapted to intense bacterial competition, leaving fewer genera to dominate with brine-specific adaptations and social interactions that sacrifice some members for the benefit of others. Such cryopeg genomic traits provide insight into how long-term environmental stability may enable life to survive extreme conditions. Article in Journal/Newspaper Arctic Ice permafrost Sea ice Directory of Open Access Journals: DOAJ Articles Arctic Frontiers in Microbiology 12 |
institution |
Open Polar |
collection |
Directory of Open Access Journals: DOAJ Articles |
op_collection_id |
ftdoajarticles |
language |
English |
topic |
cryopeg sea ice metagenomics metatranscriptomics microbial ecology hypersalinity Microbiology QR1-502 |
spellingShingle |
cryopeg sea ice metagenomics metatranscriptomics microbial ecology hypersalinity Microbiology QR1-502 Josephine Z. Rapp Matthew B. Sullivan Jody W. Deming Divergent Genomic Adaptations in the Microbiomes of Arctic Subzero Sea-Ice and Cryopeg Brines |
topic_facet |
cryopeg sea ice metagenomics metatranscriptomics microbial ecology hypersalinity Microbiology QR1-502 |
description |
Subzero hypersaline brines are liquid microbial habitats within otherwise frozen environments, where concentrated dissolved salts prevent freezing. Such extreme conditions presumably require unique microbial adaptations, and possibly altered ecologies, but specific strategies remain largely unknown. Here we examined prokaryotic taxonomic and functional diversity in two seawater-derived subzero hypersaline brines: first-year sea ice, subject to seasonally fluctuating conditions; and ancient cryopeg, under relatively stable conditions geophysically isolated in permafrost. Overall, both taxonomic composition and functional potential were starkly different. Taxonomically, sea-ice brine communities (∼105 cells mL–1) had greater richness, more diversity and were dominated by bacterial genera, including Polaribacter, Paraglaciecola, Colwellia, and Glaciecola, whereas the more densely inhabited cryopeg brines (∼108 cells mL–1) lacked these genera and instead were dominated by Marinobacter. Functionally, however, sea ice encoded fewer accessory traits and lower average genomic copy numbers for shared traits, though DNA replication and repair were elevated; in contrast, microbes in cryopeg brines had greater genetic versatility with elevated abundances of accessory traits involved in sensing, responding to environmental cues, transport, mobile elements (transposases and plasmids), toxin-antitoxin systems, and type VI secretion systems. Together these genomic features suggest adaptations and capabilities of sea-ice communities manifesting at the community level through seasonal ecological succession, whereas the denser cryopeg communities appear adapted to intense bacterial competition, leaving fewer genera to dominate with brine-specific adaptations and social interactions that sacrifice some members for the benefit of others. Such cryopeg genomic traits provide insight into how long-term environmental stability may enable life to survive extreme conditions. |
format |
Article in Journal/Newspaper |
author |
Josephine Z. Rapp Matthew B. Sullivan Jody W. Deming |
author_facet |
Josephine Z. Rapp Matthew B. Sullivan Jody W. Deming |
author_sort |
Josephine Z. Rapp |
title |
Divergent Genomic Adaptations in the Microbiomes of Arctic Subzero Sea-Ice and Cryopeg Brines |
title_short |
Divergent Genomic Adaptations in the Microbiomes of Arctic Subzero Sea-Ice and Cryopeg Brines |
title_full |
Divergent Genomic Adaptations in the Microbiomes of Arctic Subzero Sea-Ice and Cryopeg Brines |
title_fullStr |
Divergent Genomic Adaptations in the Microbiomes of Arctic Subzero Sea-Ice and Cryopeg Brines |
title_full_unstemmed |
Divergent Genomic Adaptations in the Microbiomes of Arctic Subzero Sea-Ice and Cryopeg Brines |
title_sort |
divergent genomic adaptations in the microbiomes of arctic subzero sea-ice and cryopeg brines |
publisher |
Frontiers Media S.A. |
publishDate |
2021 |
url |
https://doi.org/10.3389/fmicb.2021.701186 https://doaj.org/article/b3a843e54d5548e6b0e39d35f33c536c |
geographic |
Arctic |
geographic_facet |
Arctic |
genre |
Arctic Ice permafrost Sea ice |
genre_facet |
Arctic Ice permafrost Sea ice |
op_source |
Frontiers in Microbiology, Vol 12 (2021) |
op_relation |
https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fmicb.2021.701186/full https://doaj.org/toc/1664-302X 1664-302X doi:10.3389/fmicb.2021.701186 https://doaj.org/article/b3a843e54d5548e6b0e39d35f33c536c |
op_doi |
https://doi.org/10.3389/fmicb.2021.701186 |
container_title |
Frontiers in Microbiology |
container_volume |
12 |
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1766343659769298944 |