Marine ammonia-oxidising archaea and bacteria occupy distinct iron and copper niches

Ammonia oxidation by archaea and bacteria (AOA and AOB), is the first step of nitrification in the oceans. As AOA have an ammonium affinity 200-fold higher than AOB isolates, the chemical niche allowing AOB to persist in the oligotrophic ocean remains unclear. Here we show that marine isolates, Nitr...

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Autores principales: Shafiee, RT, Diver, PJ, Snow, JT, Zhang, Q, Rickaby, REM
Formato: Journal article
Lenguaje:English
Publicado: Springer Nature 2021
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author Shafiee, RT
Diver, PJ
Snow, JT
Zhang, Q
Rickaby, REM
author_facet Shafiee, RT
Diver, PJ
Snow, JT
Zhang, Q
Rickaby, REM
author_sort Shafiee, RT
collection OXFORD
description Ammonia oxidation by archaea and bacteria (AOA and AOB), is the first step of nitrification in the oceans. As AOA have an ammonium affinity 200-fold higher than AOB isolates, the chemical niche allowing AOB to persist in the oligotrophic ocean remains unclear. Here we show that marine isolates, Nitrosopumilus maritimus strain SCM1 (AOA) and Nitrosococcus oceani strain C-107 (AOB) have contrasting physiologies in response to the trace metals iron (Fe) and copper (Cu), holding potential implications for their niche separation in the oceans. A greater affinity for unchelated Fe may allow AOB to inhabit shallower, euphotic waters where ammonium supply is high, but competition for Fe is rife. In contrast to AOB, AOA isolates have a greater affinity and toxicity threshold for unchelated Cu providing additional explanation to the greater success of AOA in the marine environment where Cu availability can be highly variable. Using comparative genomics, we predict that the proteomic and metal transport basis giving rise to contrasting physiologies in isolates is widespread across phylogenetically diverse marine AOA and AOB that are not yet available in pure culture. Our results develop the testable hypothesis that ammonia oxidation may be limited by Cu in large tracts of the open ocean and suggest a relatively earlier emergence of AOB than AOA when considered in the context of evolving trace metal availabilities over geologic time.
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spelling oxford-uuid:918aa584-ab89-4ea5-bc31-af51c915409e2022-03-26T23:19:26ZMarine ammonia-oxidising archaea and bacteria occupy distinct iron and copper nichesJournal articlehttp://purl.org/coar/resource_type/c_dcae04bcuuid:918aa584-ab89-4ea5-bc31-af51c915409eEnglishSymplectic ElementsSpringer Nature2021Shafiee, RTDiver, PJSnow, JTZhang, QRickaby, REMAmmonia oxidation by archaea and bacteria (AOA and AOB), is the first step of nitrification in the oceans. As AOA have an ammonium affinity 200-fold higher than AOB isolates, the chemical niche allowing AOB to persist in the oligotrophic ocean remains unclear. Here we show that marine isolates, Nitrosopumilus maritimus strain SCM1 (AOA) and Nitrosococcus oceani strain C-107 (AOB) have contrasting physiologies in response to the trace metals iron (Fe) and copper (Cu), holding potential implications for their niche separation in the oceans. A greater affinity for unchelated Fe may allow AOB to inhabit shallower, euphotic waters where ammonium supply is high, but competition for Fe is rife. In contrast to AOB, AOA isolates have a greater affinity and toxicity threshold for unchelated Cu providing additional explanation to the greater success of AOA in the marine environment where Cu availability can be highly variable. Using comparative genomics, we predict that the proteomic and metal transport basis giving rise to contrasting physiologies in isolates is widespread across phylogenetically diverse marine AOA and AOB that are not yet available in pure culture. Our results develop the testable hypothesis that ammonia oxidation may be limited by Cu in large tracts of the open ocean and suggest a relatively earlier emergence of AOB than AOA when considered in the context of evolving trace metal availabilities over geologic time.
spellingShingle Shafiee, RT
Diver, PJ
Snow, JT
Zhang, Q
Rickaby, REM
Marine ammonia-oxidising archaea and bacteria occupy distinct iron and copper niches
title Marine ammonia-oxidising archaea and bacteria occupy distinct iron and copper niches
title_full Marine ammonia-oxidising archaea and bacteria occupy distinct iron and copper niches
title_fullStr Marine ammonia-oxidising archaea and bacteria occupy distinct iron and copper niches
title_full_unstemmed Marine ammonia-oxidising archaea and bacteria occupy distinct iron and copper niches
title_short Marine ammonia-oxidising archaea and bacteria occupy distinct iron and copper niches
title_sort marine ammonia oxidising archaea and bacteria occupy distinct iron and copper niches
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