A PCR-Based Survey of Methane-Cycling Archaea in Methane-Soaked Subsurface Sediments of Guaymas Basin, Gulf of California
The Guaymas Basin in the Gulf of California is characterized by active seafloor spreading, the rapid deposition of organic-rich sediments, steep geothermal gradients, and abundant methane of mixed thermogenic and microbial origin. Subsurface sediment samples from eight drilling sites with distinct g...
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| Format: | Article |
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MDPI AG
2023-12-01
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| Series: | Microorganisms |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2607/11/12/2956 |
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| author | John E. Hinkle Paraskevi Mara David J. Beaudoin Virginia P. Edgcomb Andreas P. Teske |
| author_facet | John E. Hinkle Paraskevi Mara David J. Beaudoin Virginia P. Edgcomb Andreas P. Teske |
| author_sort | John E. Hinkle |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The Guaymas Basin in the Gulf of California is characterized by active seafloor spreading, the rapid deposition of organic-rich sediments, steep geothermal gradients, and abundant methane of mixed thermogenic and microbial origin. Subsurface sediment samples from eight drilling sites with distinct geochemical and thermal profiles were selected for DNA extraction and PCR amplification to explore the diversity of methane-cycling archaea in the Guaymas Basin subsurface. We performed PCR amplifications with general (mcrIRD), and ANME-1 specific primers that target the alpha (α) subunit of methyl coenzyme M reductase (<i>mcrA</i>). Diverse ANME-1 lineages associated with anaerobic methane oxidation were detected in seven out of the eight drilling sites, preferentially around the methane-sulfate interface, and in several cases, showed preferences for specific sampling sites. Phylogenetically, most ANME-1 sequences from the Guaymas Basin subsurface were related to marine mud volcanoes, seep sites, and the shallow marine subsurface. The most frequently recovered methanogenic phylotypes were closely affiliated with the hyperthermophilic <i>Methanocaldococcaceae</i>, and found at the hydrothermally influenced Ringvent site. The coolest drilling site, in the northern axial trough of Guaymas Basin, yielded the greatest diversity in methanogen lineages. Our survey indicates the potential for extensive microbial methane cycling within subsurface sediments of Guaymas Basin. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-08T20:30:50Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-5a5684f5ff7947fca7b83d9835e43165 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2076-2607 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-08T20:30:50Z |
| publishDate | 2023-12-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Microorganisms |
| spelling | doaj.art-5a5684f5ff7947fca7b83d9835e431652023-12-22T14:26:12ZengMDPI AGMicroorganisms2076-26072023-12-011112295610.3390/microorganisms11122956A PCR-Based Survey of Methane-Cycling Archaea in Methane-Soaked Subsurface Sediments of Guaymas Basin, Gulf of CaliforniaJohn E. Hinkle0Paraskevi Mara1David J. Beaudoin2Virginia P. Edgcomb3Andreas P. Teske4Department of Earth, Marine and Environmental Sciences, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USADepartment of Geology and Geophysics, Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, Falmouth, MA 02543, USADepartment of Geology and Geophysics, Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, Falmouth, MA 02543, USADepartment of Geology and Geophysics, Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, Falmouth, MA 02543, USADepartment of Earth, Marine and Environmental Sciences, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USAThe Guaymas Basin in the Gulf of California is characterized by active seafloor spreading, the rapid deposition of organic-rich sediments, steep geothermal gradients, and abundant methane of mixed thermogenic and microbial origin. Subsurface sediment samples from eight drilling sites with distinct geochemical and thermal profiles were selected for DNA extraction and PCR amplification to explore the diversity of methane-cycling archaea in the Guaymas Basin subsurface. We performed PCR amplifications with general (mcrIRD), and ANME-1 specific primers that target the alpha (α) subunit of methyl coenzyme M reductase (<i>mcrA</i>). Diverse ANME-1 lineages associated with anaerobic methane oxidation were detected in seven out of the eight drilling sites, preferentially around the methane-sulfate interface, and in several cases, showed preferences for specific sampling sites. Phylogenetically, most ANME-1 sequences from the Guaymas Basin subsurface were related to marine mud volcanoes, seep sites, and the shallow marine subsurface. The most frequently recovered methanogenic phylotypes were closely affiliated with the hyperthermophilic <i>Methanocaldococcaceae</i>, and found at the hydrothermally influenced Ringvent site. The coolest drilling site, in the northern axial trough of Guaymas Basin, yielded the greatest diversity in methanogen lineages. Our survey indicates the potential for extensive microbial methane cycling within subsurface sediments of Guaymas Basin.https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2607/11/12/2956Guaymas BasinANME-1methanogensphylogeneticsmethane<i>mcrA</i> |
| spellingShingle | John E. Hinkle Paraskevi Mara David J. Beaudoin Virginia P. Edgcomb Andreas P. Teske A PCR-Based Survey of Methane-Cycling Archaea in Methane-Soaked Subsurface Sediments of Guaymas Basin, Gulf of California Microorganisms Guaymas Basin ANME-1 methanogens phylogenetics methane <i>mcrA</i> |
| title | A PCR-Based Survey of Methane-Cycling Archaea in Methane-Soaked Subsurface Sediments of Guaymas Basin, Gulf of California |
| title_full | A PCR-Based Survey of Methane-Cycling Archaea in Methane-Soaked Subsurface Sediments of Guaymas Basin, Gulf of California |
| title_fullStr | A PCR-Based Survey of Methane-Cycling Archaea in Methane-Soaked Subsurface Sediments of Guaymas Basin, Gulf of California |
| title_full_unstemmed | A PCR-Based Survey of Methane-Cycling Archaea in Methane-Soaked Subsurface Sediments of Guaymas Basin, Gulf of California |
| title_short | A PCR-Based Survey of Methane-Cycling Archaea in Methane-Soaked Subsurface Sediments of Guaymas Basin, Gulf of California |
| title_sort | pcr based survey of methane cycling archaea in methane soaked subsurface sediments of guaymas basin gulf of california |
| topic | Guaymas Basin ANME-1 methanogens phylogenetics methane <i>mcrA</i> |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2607/11/12/2956 |
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