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SAR11 bacteria linked to ocean anoxia and nitrogen loss

Author

Listed:
  • Despina Tsementzi

    (School of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology, Ford Environmental Science & Technology Building)

  • Jieying Wu

    (School of Biological Sciences, Georgia Institute of Technology, Ford Environmental Sciences & Technology Building)

  • Samuel Deutsch

    (Department of Energy Joint Genome Institute)

  • Sangeeta Nath

    (Department of Energy Joint Genome Institute)

  • Luis M. Rodriguez-R

    (School of Biological Sciences, Georgia Institute of Technology, Ford Environmental Sciences & Technology Building)

  • Andrew S. Burns

    (School of Biological Sciences, Georgia Institute of Technology, Ford Environmental Sciences & Technology Building)

  • Piyush Ranjan

    (School of Biological Sciences, Georgia Institute of Technology, Ford Environmental Sciences & Technology Building)

  • Neha Sarode

    (School of Biological Sciences, Georgia Institute of Technology, Ford Environmental Sciences & Technology Building)

  • Rex R. Malmstrom

    (Department of Energy Joint Genome Institute)

  • Cory C. Padilla

    (School of Biological Sciences, Georgia Institute of Technology, Ford Environmental Sciences & Technology Building)

  • Benjamin K. Stone

    (Bowdoin College)

  • Laura A. Bristow

    (Biochemistry Group, Max Planck Institute for Marine Microbiology)

  • Morten Larsen

    (University of Southern Denmark)

  • Jennifer B. Glass

    (School of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences, Georgia Institute of Technology, Ford Environmental Sciences & Technology Building)

  • Bo Thamdrup

    (University of Southern Denmark)

  • Tanja Woyke

    (Department of Energy Joint Genome Institute)

  • Konstantinos T. Konstantinidis

    (School of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology, Ford Environmental Science & Technology Building
    School of Biological Sciences, Georgia Institute of Technology, Ford Environmental Sciences & Technology Building)

  • Frank J. Stewart

    (School of Biological Sciences, Georgia Institute of Technology, Ford Environmental Sciences & Technology Building)

Abstract

Bacteria of the SAR11 clade constitute up to one half of all microbial cells in the oxygen-rich surface ocean. SAR11 bacteria are also abundant in oxygen minimum zones (OMZs), where oxygen falls below detection and anaerobic microbes have vital roles in converting bioavailable nitrogen to N2 gas. Anaerobic metabolism has not yet been observed in SAR11, and it remains unknown how these bacteria contribute to OMZ biogeochemical cycling. Here, genomic analysis of single cells from the world’s largest OMZ revealed previously uncharacterized SAR11 lineages with adaptations for life without oxygen, including genes for respiratory nitrate reductases (Nar). SAR11 nar genes were experimentally verified to encode proteins catalysing the nitrite-producing first step of denitrification and constituted ~40% of OMZ nar transcripts, with transcription peaking in the anoxic zone of maximum nitrate reduction activity. These results link SAR11 to pathways of ocean nitrogen loss, redefining the ecological niche of Earth’s most abundant organismal group.

Suggested Citation

  • Despina Tsementzi & Jieying Wu & Samuel Deutsch & Sangeeta Nath & Luis M. Rodriguez-R & Andrew S. Burns & Piyush Ranjan & Neha Sarode & Rex R. Malmstrom & Cory C. Padilla & Benjamin K. Stone & Laura A, 2016. "SAR11 bacteria linked to ocean anoxia and nitrogen loss," Nature, Nature, vol. 536(7615), pages 179-183, August.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:nature:v:536:y:2016:i:7615:d:10.1038_nature19068
    DOI: 10.1038/nature19068
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    Cited by:

    1. Bernd Wemheuer, 2020. "A Collection of 13 Archaeal and 46 Bacterial Genomes Reconstructed from Marine Metagenomes Derived from the North Sea," Data, MDPI, vol. 5(1), pages 1-5, February.
    2. J. M. Beman & S. M. Vargas & J. M. Wilson & E. Perez-Coronel & J. S. Karolewski & S. Vazquez & A. Yu & A. E. Cairo & M. E. White & I. Koester & L. I. Aluwihare & S. D. Wankel, 2021. "Substantial oxygen consumption by aerobic nitrite oxidation in oceanic oxygen minimum zones," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 12(1), pages 1-11, December.

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