Vitamin B12 is an enzymatic cofactor that is essential for both eukaryotes and prokaryotes. The development of life in extreme environments depends on cofactors such as vitamin B12 as well. The genomes of twelve microorganisms isolated from the deep subsurface of the Iberian Pyrite Belt have been analyzed in search of enzymatic activities that require vitamin B12 or are involved in its synthesis and import. Results have revealed that vitamin B12 is needed by these microorganisms for several essential enzymes such as ribonucleotide reductase, methionine synthase and epoxyqueosine reductase. Isolate Desulfosporosinus sp. DEEP is the only analyzed genome that holds a set core of proteins that could lead to the production of vitamin B12. The rest are dependent on obtaining it from the subsurface oligotrophic environment in which they grow. Sought proteins involved in the import of vitamin B12 are not widespread in the sample. The dependence found in the genomes of these microorganisms is supported by the production of vitamin B12 by microorganisms such as Desulfosporosinus sp. DEEP, showing that the operation of deep subsurface biogeochemical cycles is dependent on cofactors such as vitamin B12.
Keywords: Iberian Pyrite Belt; deep subsurface; extreme environments; vitamin B12.