Document Detail


Metagenomic and stable isotopic analyses of modern freshwater microbialites in Cuatro Ciénegas, Mexico.
MedLine Citation:
PMID:  18764874     Owner:  NLM     Status:  MEDLINE    
Abstract/OtherAbstract:
Ancient biologically mediated sedimentary carbonate deposits, including stromatolites and other microbialites, provide insight into environmental conditions on early Earth. The primary limitation to interpreting these records is our lack of understanding regarding microbial processes and the preservation of geochemical signatures in contemporary microbialite systems. Using a combination of metagenomic sequencing and isotopic analyses, this study describes the identity, metabolic potential and chemical processes of microbial communities from living microbialites from Cuatro Ciénegas, Mexico. Metagenomic sequencing revealed a diverse, redox-dependent microbial community associated with the microbialites. The microbialite community is distinct from other marine and freshwater microbial communities, and demonstrates extensive environmental adaptation. The microbialite metagenomes contain a large number of genes involved in the production of exopolymeric substances and the formation of biofilms, creating a complex, spatially structured environment. In addition to the spatial complexity of the biofilm, microbial activity is tightly controlled by sensory and regulatory systems, which allow for coordination of autotrophic and heterotrophic processes. Isotopic measurements of the intracrystalline organic matter demonstrate the importance of heterotrophic respiration of photoautotrophic biomass in the precipitation of calcium carbonate. The genomic and stable isotopic data presented here significantly enhance our evolving knowledge of contemporary biomineralization processes, and are directly applicable to studies of ancient microbialites.
Authors:
Mya Breitbart; Ana Hoare; Anthony Nitti; Janet Siefert; Matthew Haynes; Elizabeth Dinsdale; Robert Edwards; Valeria Souza; Forest Rohwer; David Hollander
Related Documents :
1153354 - Studies on absorption and elimination of drugs. part iii. kinetic of distribution and e...
16860554 - Operating problems in anaerobic digestion plants resulting from nitrogen in msw.
22524094 - Addressing intersections in hiv/aids and mental health: the role of organizations for d...
10354334 - A delphi technique to identify and evaluate criteria for construction of pbl problems.
1978964 - Current report--hiv. aids at the crossroads: a report from the 1990 international confe...
11137164 - Incidence and epidemiology of citrus tristeza virus in the valencian community of spain.
Publication Detail:
Type:  Journal Article; Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't; Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.     Date:  2008-09-01
Journal Detail:
Title:  Environmental microbiology     Volume:  11     ISSN:  1462-2920     ISO Abbreviation:  Environ. Microbiol.     Publication Date:  2009 Jan 
Date Detail:
Created Date:  2009-01-07     Completed Date:  2009-02-06     Revised Date:  -    
Medline Journal Info:
Nlm Unique ID:  100883692     Medline TA:  Environ Microbiol     Country:  England    
Other Details:
Languages:  eng     Pagination:  16-34     Citation Subset:  IM    
Affiliation:
College of Marine Science, University of South Florida, Saint Petersburg, FL 33701, USA. mya@marine.usf.edu
Export Citation:
APA/MLA Format     Download EndNote     Download BibTex
MeSH Terms
Descriptor/Qualifier:
Biodiversity*
Carbonates / metabolism
Fresh Water / chemistry*,  microbiology*
Geologic Sediments / chemistry*,  microbiology*
Isotope Labeling*
Mexico
Polymers / metabolism
Sequence Analysis, DNA
Chemical
Reg. No./Substance:
0/Carbonates; 0/Polymers

From MEDLINE®/PubMed®, a database of the U.S. National Library of Medicine


Previous Document:  Soils of a Mediterranean hot spot of biodiversity and endemism (Sardinia, Tyrrhenian Islands) are in...
Next Document:  A culture-independent study of free-living fungi in biological soil crusts of the Colorado Plateau: ...