Evolutionary pathways for deep-sea adaptation in marine planktonic Actinobacteriota

The deep ocean, one of the largest ecosystems on earth, is dominated by microorganisms that are keystones in the regulation of biogeochemical cycles. However, the evolutionary pathways underlying the specific adaptations required (e.g., high pressure and low temperature) by this unique niche remain...

Full description

Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Juan J. Roda-Garcia, Jose M. Haro-Moreno, Mario López-Pérez
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Frontiers Media S.A. 2023-05-01
Series:Frontiers in Microbiology
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fmicb.2023.1159270/full
_version_ 1827950677689630720
author Juan J. Roda-Garcia
Jose M. Haro-Moreno
Mario López-Pérez
author_facet Juan J. Roda-Garcia
Jose M. Haro-Moreno
Mario López-Pérez
author_sort Juan J. Roda-Garcia
collection DOAJ
description The deep ocean, one of the largest ecosystems on earth, is dominated by microorganisms that are keystones in the regulation of biogeochemical cycles. However, the evolutionary pathways underlying the specific adaptations required (e.g., high pressure and low temperature) by this unique niche remain understudied. Here, we analyzed the first representatives belonging to the order Acidimicrobiales, a group of marine planktonic Actinobacteriota, that specifically inhabits the aphotic zone of the oceanic water column (>200 m). Compared with their epipelagic counterparts, deep-sea representatives showed the same evolution in genome architecture with higher GC content, longer intergenic spaces as well as higher nitrogen (N-ARSC) and lower carbon (C-ARSC) content in encoded amino acid residue side chains consistent with the higher nitrogen concentration and lower carbon concentration in deep waters compared to the photic zone. Metagenomic recruitment showed distribution patterns that allowed the description of different ecogenomic units within the three deep water-associated genera defined by our phylogenomic analyses (UBA3125, S20-B6 and UBA9410). The entire genus UBA3125 was found exclusively associated with oxygen minimum zones linked to the acquisition of genes involved in denitrification. Genomospecies of genus S20-B6 recruited in samples from both mesopelagic (200–1,000 m) and bathypelagic (1000–4,000 m) zones, including polar regions. Diversity in the genus UBA9410 was higher, with genomospecies widely distributed in temperate zones, others in polar regions, and the only genomospecies associated with abyssal zones (>4,000 m). At the functional level, groups beyond the epipelagic zone have a more complex transcriptional regulation including in their genomes a unique WhiB paralog. In addition, they showed higher metabolic potential for organic carbon and carbohydrate degradation as well as the ability to accumulate glycogen as a source of carbon and energy. This could compensate for energy metabolism in the absence of rhodopsins, which is only present in genomes associated with the photic zone. The abundance in deep samples of cytochrome P450 monooxygenases associated with the genomes of this order suggests an important role in remineralization of recalcitrant compounds throughout the water column.
first_indexed 2024-04-09T13:29:18Z
format Article
id doaj.art-1fd03b87172147a3a9636e0c21f3705f
institution Directory Open Access Journal
issn 1664-302X
language English
last_indexed 2024-04-09T13:29:18Z
publishDate 2023-05-01
publisher Frontiers Media S.A.
record_format Article
series Frontiers in Microbiology
spelling doaj.art-1fd03b87172147a3a9636e0c21f3705f2023-05-10T04:38:40ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Microbiology1664-302X2023-05-011410.3389/fmicb.2023.11592701159270Evolutionary pathways for deep-sea adaptation in marine planktonic ActinobacteriotaJuan J. Roda-GarciaJose M. Haro-MorenoMario López-PérezThe deep ocean, one of the largest ecosystems on earth, is dominated by microorganisms that are keystones in the regulation of biogeochemical cycles. However, the evolutionary pathways underlying the specific adaptations required (e.g., high pressure and low temperature) by this unique niche remain understudied. Here, we analyzed the first representatives belonging to the order Acidimicrobiales, a group of marine planktonic Actinobacteriota, that specifically inhabits the aphotic zone of the oceanic water column (>200 m). Compared with their epipelagic counterparts, deep-sea representatives showed the same evolution in genome architecture with higher GC content, longer intergenic spaces as well as higher nitrogen (N-ARSC) and lower carbon (C-ARSC) content in encoded amino acid residue side chains consistent with the higher nitrogen concentration and lower carbon concentration in deep waters compared to the photic zone. Metagenomic recruitment showed distribution patterns that allowed the description of different ecogenomic units within the three deep water-associated genera defined by our phylogenomic analyses (UBA3125, S20-B6 and UBA9410). The entire genus UBA3125 was found exclusively associated with oxygen minimum zones linked to the acquisition of genes involved in denitrification. Genomospecies of genus S20-B6 recruited in samples from both mesopelagic (200–1,000 m) and bathypelagic (1000–4,000 m) zones, including polar regions. Diversity in the genus UBA9410 was higher, with genomospecies widely distributed in temperate zones, others in polar regions, and the only genomospecies associated with abyssal zones (>4,000 m). At the functional level, groups beyond the epipelagic zone have a more complex transcriptional regulation including in their genomes a unique WhiB paralog. In addition, they showed higher metabolic potential for organic carbon and carbohydrate degradation as well as the ability to accumulate glycogen as a source of carbon and energy. This could compensate for energy metabolism in the absence of rhodopsins, which is only present in genomes associated with the photic zone. The abundance in deep samples of cytochrome P450 monooxygenases associated with the genomes of this order suggests an important role in remineralization of recalcitrant compounds throughout the water column.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fmicb.2023.1159270/fullAcidimicrobialesActinobacteriotaoxygen minimum zonedeep oceanWhiBnitrate reductase
spellingShingle Juan J. Roda-Garcia
Jose M. Haro-Moreno
Mario López-Pérez
Evolutionary pathways for deep-sea adaptation in marine planktonic Actinobacteriota
Frontiers in Microbiology
Acidimicrobiales
Actinobacteriota
oxygen minimum zone
deep ocean
WhiB
nitrate reductase
title Evolutionary pathways for deep-sea adaptation in marine planktonic Actinobacteriota
title_full Evolutionary pathways for deep-sea adaptation in marine planktonic Actinobacteriota
title_fullStr Evolutionary pathways for deep-sea adaptation in marine planktonic Actinobacteriota
title_full_unstemmed Evolutionary pathways for deep-sea adaptation in marine planktonic Actinobacteriota
title_short Evolutionary pathways for deep-sea adaptation in marine planktonic Actinobacteriota
title_sort evolutionary pathways for deep sea adaptation in marine planktonic actinobacteriota
topic Acidimicrobiales
Actinobacteriota
oxygen minimum zone
deep ocean
WhiB
nitrate reductase
url https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fmicb.2023.1159270/full
work_keys_str_mv AT juanjrodagarcia evolutionarypathwaysfordeepseaadaptationinmarineplanktonicactinobacteriota
AT josemharomoreno evolutionarypathwaysfordeepseaadaptationinmarineplanktonicactinobacteriota
AT mariolopezperez evolutionarypathwaysfordeepseaadaptationinmarineplanktonicactinobacteriota