Mixotrophy broadens the ecological niche range of the iron oxidizer Sideroxydans sp. CL21 isolated from an iron-rich peatland
Date
2023-02-14
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
FEMS Microbiology Ecology
Abstract
Sideroxydans sp. CL21 is a microaerobic, acid-tolerant Fe(II)-oxidizer, isolated from the Schlöppnerbrunnen fen. Since the genome size of Sideroxydans sp. CL21 is 21% larger than that of the neutrophilic Sideroxydans lithotrophicus ES-1, we hypothesized that strain CL21 contains additional metabolic traits to thrive in the fen. The common genomic content of both strains contains homologs of the putative Fe(II) oxidation genes, mtoAB and cyc2. A large part of the accessory genome in strain CL21 contains genes linked to utilization of alternative electron donors, including NiFe uptake hydrogenases, and genes encoding lactate uptake and utilization proteins, motility and biofilm formation, transposable elements, and pH homeostasis mechanisms. Next, we incubated the strain in different combinations of electron donors and characterized the fen microbial communities. Sideroxydans spp. comprised 3.33% and 3.94% of the total relative abundance in the peatland soil and peatland water, respectively. Incubation results indicate Sideroxydans sp. CL21 uses H2 and thiosulfate, while lactate only enhances growth when combined with Fe, H2, or thiosulfate. Rates of H2 utilization were highest in combination with other substrates. Thus, Sideroxydans sp. CL21 is a mixotroph, growing best by simultaneously using substrate combinations, which helps to thrive in dynamic and complex habitats.
Description
This article was originally published in FEMS Microbiology Ecology. The version of record is available at: https://doi.org/10.1093/femsec/fiac156
Keywords
Sideroxydans sp. CL21, genome, physiology, peatland, iron oxidation, mixotrophy
Citation
Rebecca E Cooper, Jessica Finck, Clara Chan, Kirsten Küsel, Mixotrophy broadens the ecological niche range of the iron oxidizer Sideroxydans sp. CL21 isolated from an iron-rich peatland, FEMS Microbiology Ecology, Volume 99, Issue 2, February 2023, fiac156, https://doi.org/10.1093/femsec/fiac156