Evidence of microbial rhodopsins in Antarctic Dry Valley eda
Details of Research
TitleEvidence of microbial rhodopsins in Antarctic Dry Valley edaphic systemsAbstractMicroorganisms able to synthesize rhodopsins have the capacity to translocate ions through their membranes, using solar energy to generate a proton motive force. Rhodopsins are the most abundant phototrophic proteins in oceanic surface waters and are key constituents in marine bacterial ecology. However, it remains unclear how rhodopsins are used in most microorganisms. Despite their abundance in marine and fresh-water systems, the presence of functional rhodopsin systems in edaphic habitats has never been reported. Here, we show the presence of several new putative H+, Na+ and Cl+ pumping rhodopsins identified by metagenomic analysis of Antarctic desert hypolithic communities. Reconstruction of two Proteobacteria genomes harboring xanthorhodopsin-like proteins and one Bacteroidetes genome with a Na-pumping-like rhodopsin indicated that these bacteria were aerobic heterotrophs possessing the apparent capacity for the functional expression of rhodopsins. The existence of these protein systems in hypolithic bacteria expands the known role of rhodopsins to include terrestrial environments and suggests a possible predominant function as heterotrophic energy supply proteins, a feasible microbial adaptation to the harsh conditions prevalent in Antarctic edaphic systems. © 2017 Society for Applied Microbiology and John Wiley & Sons LtdFunding DetailsSouth African Medical Research Council; 93074, National Research Foundation; University of Pretoria; Genomics Research Institute, University of Pretoria; South African Medical Research Council; University of Pretoria; National Research Foundation; 81693, Bluefin Robotics; Claude Leon Foundation
Details
1st AuthorGuerrero, L. AuthorGuerrero, L.Vikram, S.Makhalanyane, T.Cowan, D.Year2017JournalEnvironmental MicrobiologyVolume19Number9Pages3755-3767DOI10.1111/1462-2920.13877URLhttps://www.scopus.com/inward/recor.....8bc10bfbe7db5e72f2ccc4547PublisherBlackwell Publishing LtdKeywordsfresh waterrhodopsinsea water, Antarcticabacterial genomeBacteroidetesecosystemgeneticsmetabolismmetagenomicsmicrobiologyproceduresProteobacteria, Antarctic RegionsBacteroidetesEcosystemFresh WaterGenome, BacterialMetagenomicsProteobacteriaRhodopsins, MicrobialSeawater
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CitationGuerrero, L., Vikram, S., Makhalanyane, T. and Cowan, D. (2017). Evidence of microbial rhodopsins in Antarctic Dry Valley edaphic systems. Environmental Microbiology, 19(9): 3755-3767Antarctica NZ supported?YesNZARI?No
Cowan, D., Evidence of microbial rhodopsins in Antarctic Dry Valley eda . Antarctica NZ, accessed 26/03/2025, https://adam.antarcticanz.govt.nz/nodes/view/64207, 10.1111/1462-2920.13877