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Purple sulfur bacteria fix N2 via molybdenum-nitrogenase in a low molybdenum Proterozoic ocean analogue

Author

Listed:
  • Miriam Philippi

    (Max Planck Institute for Marine Microbiology)

  • Katharina Kitzinger

    (Max Planck Institute for Marine Microbiology)

  • Jasmine S. Berg

    (ETH-Zurich)

  • Bernhard Tschitschko

    (Max Planck Institute for Marine Microbiology)

  • Abiel T. Kidane

    (Max Planck Institute for Marine Microbiology)

  • Sten Littmann

    (Max Planck Institute for Marine Microbiology)

  • Hannah K. Marchant

    (Max Planck Institute for Marine Microbiology)

  • Nicola Storelli

    (University of Applied Sciences of Southern Switzerland (SUPSI))

  • Lenny H. E. Winkel

    (ETH-Zurich
    Eawag, Swiss Federal Institute of Aquatic Science and Technology)

  • Carsten J. Schubert

    (ETH-Zurich
    Eawag, Swiss Federal Institute of Aquatic Science and Technology)

  • Wiebke Mohr

    (Max Planck Institute for Marine Microbiology)

  • Marcel M. M. Kuypers

    (Max Planck Institute for Marine Microbiology)

Abstract

Biological N2 fixation was key to the expansion of life on early Earth. The N2-fixing microorganisms and the nitrogenase type used in the Proterozoic are unknown, although it has been proposed that the canonical molybdenum-nitrogenase was not used due to low molybdenum availability. We investigate N2 fixation in Lake Cadagno, an analogue system to the sulfidic Proterozoic continental margins, using a combination of biogeochemical, molecular and single cell techniques. In Lake Cadagno, purple sulfur bacteria (PSB) are responsible for high N2 fixation rates, to our knowledge providing the first direct evidence for PSB in situ N2 fixation. Surprisingly, no alternative nitrogenases are detectable, and N2 fixation is exclusively catalyzed by molybdenum-nitrogenase. Our results show that molybdenum-nitrogenase is functional at low molybdenum conditions in situ and that in contrast to previous beliefs, PSB may have driven N2 fixation in the Proterozoic ocean.

Suggested Citation

  • Miriam Philippi & Katharina Kitzinger & Jasmine S. Berg & Bernhard Tschitschko & Abiel T. Kidane & Sten Littmann & Hannah K. Marchant & Nicola Storelli & Lenny H. E. Winkel & Carsten J. Schubert & Wie, 2021. "Purple sulfur bacteria fix N2 via molybdenum-nitrogenase in a low molybdenum Proterozoic ocean analogue," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 12(1), pages 1-12, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:12:y:2021:i:1:d:10.1038_s41467-021-25000-z
    DOI: 10.1038/s41467-021-25000-z
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