In Situ Gene Expression Responsible for Sulfide Oxidation and CO2 Fixation of an Uncultured Large Sausage-Shaped Aquificae Bacterium in a Sulfidic Hot Spring

Microbes Environ. 2016 Jun 25;31(2):194-8. doi: 10.1264/jsme2.ME16013. Epub 2016 Jun 7.

Abstract

We investigated the in situ gene expression profile of sulfur-turf microbial mats dominated by an uncultured large sausage-shaped Aquificae bacterium, a key metabolic player in sulfur-turfs in sulfidic hot springs. A reverse transcription-PCR analysis revealed that the genes responsible for sulfide, sulfite, and thiosulfate oxidation and carbon fixation via the reductive TCA cycle were continuously expressed in sulfur-turf mats taken at different sampling points, seasons, and years. These results suggest that the uncultured large sausage-shaped bacterium has the ability to grow chemolithoautotrophically and plays key roles as a primary producer in the sulfidic hot spring ecosystem in situ.

MeSH terms

  • Bacteria / classification*
  • Bacteria / cytology
  • Bacteria / metabolism*
  • Carbon Dioxide / metabolism*
  • Chemoautotrophic Growth
  • Citric Acid Cycle
  • Gene Expression Profiling
  • Hot Springs / microbiology*
  • Oxidation-Reduction
  • Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction
  • Sulfides / metabolism*
  • Sulfites / metabolism
  • Thiosulfates / metabolism

Substances

  • Sulfides
  • Sulfites
  • Thiosulfates
  • Carbon Dioxide