Microbial Communities and Their Predicted Metabolic Functions in Growth Laminae of a Unique Large Conical Mat from Lake Untersee, East Antarctica
In this study, we report the distribution of microbial taxa and their predicted metabolic functions observed in the top (U1), middle (U2), and inner (U3) decadal growth laminae of a unique large conical microbial mat from perennially ice-covered Lake Untersee of East Antarctica, using NextGen sequen...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Frontiers Media S.A.
2017-08-01
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| Series: | Frontiers in Microbiology |
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| Online Access: | http://journal.frontiersin.org/article/10.3389/fmicb.2017.01347/full |
| _version_ | 1811334968174968832 |
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| author | Hyunmin Koo Nazia Mojib Joseph A. Hakim Ian Hawes Yukiko Tanabe Dale T. Andersen Asim K. Bej |
| author_facet | Hyunmin Koo Nazia Mojib Joseph A. Hakim Ian Hawes Yukiko Tanabe Dale T. Andersen Asim K. Bej |
| author_sort | Hyunmin Koo |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | In this study, we report the distribution of microbial taxa and their predicted metabolic functions observed in the top (U1), middle (U2), and inner (U3) decadal growth laminae of a unique large conical microbial mat from perennially ice-covered Lake Untersee of East Antarctica, using NextGen sequencing of the 16S rRNA gene and bioinformatics tools. The results showed that the U1 lamina was dominated by cyanobacteria, specifically Phormidium sp., Leptolyngbya sp., and Pseudanabaena sp. The U2 and U3 laminae had high abundances of Actinobacteria, Verrucomicrobia, Proteobacteria, and Bacteroidetes. Closely related taxa within each abundant bacterial taxon found in each lamina were further differentiated at the highest taxonomic resolution using the oligotyping method. PICRUSt analysis, which determines predicted KEGG functional categories from the gene contents and abundances among microbial communities, revealed a high number of sequences belonging to carbon fixation, energy metabolism, cyanophycin, chlorophyll, and photosynthesis proteins in the U1 lamina. The functional predictions of the microbial communities in U2 and U3 represented signal transduction, membrane transport, zinc transport and amino acid-, carbohydrate-, and arsenic- metabolisms. The Nearest Sequenced Taxon Index (NSTI) values processed through PICRUSt were 0.10, 0.13, and 0.11 for U1, U2, and U3 laminae, respectively. These values indicated a close correspondence with the reference microbial genome database, implying high confidence in the predicted metabolic functions of the microbial communities in each lamina. The distribution of microbial taxa observed in each lamina and their predicted metabolic functions provides additional insight into the complex microbial ecosystem at Lake Untersee, and lays the foundation for studies that will enhance our understanding of the mechanisms responsible for the formation of these unique mat structures and their evolutionary significance. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-13T17:16:10Z |
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| id | doaj.art-ec6a34abcdc147859ffda5c31298d092 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1664-302X |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-13T17:16:10Z |
| publishDate | 2017-08-01 |
| publisher | Frontiers Media S.A. |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Frontiers in Microbiology |
| spelling | doaj.art-ec6a34abcdc147859ffda5c31298d0922022-12-22T02:38:07ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Microbiology1664-302X2017-08-01810.3389/fmicb.2017.01347258084Microbial Communities and Their Predicted Metabolic Functions in Growth Laminae of a Unique Large Conical Mat from Lake Untersee, East AntarcticaHyunmin Koo0Nazia Mojib1Joseph A. Hakim2Ian Hawes3Yukiko Tanabe4Dale T. Andersen5Asim K. Bej6Department of Biology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, BirminghamAL, United StatesDepartment of Biology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, BirminghamAL, United StatesDepartment of Biology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, BirminghamAL, United StatesGateway Antarctica, University of CanterburyChristchurch, New ZealandNational Institute of Polar ResearchTachikawa, JapanCarl Sagan Center, SETI Institute, Mountain ViewCA, United StatesDepartment of Biology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, BirminghamAL, United StatesIn this study, we report the distribution of microbial taxa and their predicted metabolic functions observed in the top (U1), middle (U2), and inner (U3) decadal growth laminae of a unique large conical microbial mat from perennially ice-covered Lake Untersee of East Antarctica, using NextGen sequencing of the 16S rRNA gene and bioinformatics tools. The results showed that the U1 lamina was dominated by cyanobacteria, specifically Phormidium sp., Leptolyngbya sp., and Pseudanabaena sp. The U2 and U3 laminae had high abundances of Actinobacteria, Verrucomicrobia, Proteobacteria, and Bacteroidetes. Closely related taxa within each abundant bacterial taxon found in each lamina were further differentiated at the highest taxonomic resolution using the oligotyping method. PICRUSt analysis, which determines predicted KEGG functional categories from the gene contents and abundances among microbial communities, revealed a high number of sequences belonging to carbon fixation, energy metabolism, cyanophycin, chlorophyll, and photosynthesis proteins in the U1 lamina. The functional predictions of the microbial communities in U2 and U3 represented signal transduction, membrane transport, zinc transport and amino acid-, carbohydrate-, and arsenic- metabolisms. The Nearest Sequenced Taxon Index (NSTI) values processed through PICRUSt were 0.10, 0.13, and 0.11 for U1, U2, and U3 laminae, respectively. These values indicated a close correspondence with the reference microbial genome database, implying high confidence in the predicted metabolic functions of the microbial communities in each lamina. The distribution of microbial taxa observed in each lamina and their predicted metabolic functions provides additional insight into the complex microbial ecosystem at Lake Untersee, and lays the foundation for studies that will enhance our understanding of the mechanisms responsible for the formation of these unique mat structures and their evolutionary significance.http://journal.frontiersin.org/article/10.3389/fmicb.2017.01347/fullEast Antarcticacyanobacteriaheterotrophic bacteriamat laminaQIIMEPICRUSt |
| spellingShingle | Hyunmin Koo Nazia Mojib Joseph A. Hakim Ian Hawes Yukiko Tanabe Dale T. Andersen Asim K. Bej Microbial Communities and Their Predicted Metabolic Functions in Growth Laminae of a Unique Large Conical Mat from Lake Untersee, East Antarctica Frontiers in Microbiology East Antarctica cyanobacteria heterotrophic bacteria mat lamina QIIME PICRUSt |
| title | Microbial Communities and Their Predicted Metabolic Functions in Growth Laminae of a Unique Large Conical Mat from Lake Untersee, East Antarctica |
| title_full | Microbial Communities and Their Predicted Metabolic Functions in Growth Laminae of a Unique Large Conical Mat from Lake Untersee, East Antarctica |
| title_fullStr | Microbial Communities and Their Predicted Metabolic Functions in Growth Laminae of a Unique Large Conical Mat from Lake Untersee, East Antarctica |
| title_full_unstemmed | Microbial Communities and Their Predicted Metabolic Functions in Growth Laminae of a Unique Large Conical Mat from Lake Untersee, East Antarctica |
| title_short | Microbial Communities and Their Predicted Metabolic Functions in Growth Laminae of a Unique Large Conical Mat from Lake Untersee, East Antarctica |
| title_sort | microbial communities and their predicted metabolic functions in growth laminae of a unique large conical mat from lake untersee east antarctica |
| topic | East Antarctica cyanobacteria heterotrophic bacteria mat lamina QIIME PICRUSt |
| url | http://journal.frontiersin.org/article/10.3389/fmicb.2017.01347/full |
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