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Řezanka T, Kyselová L, Murphy DJ. Archaeal lipids. Prog Lipid Res 2023; 91:101237. [PMID: 37236370 DOI: 10.1016/j.plipres.2023.101237] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/06/2023] [Revised: 04/25/2023] [Accepted: 05/19/2023] [Indexed: 05/28/2023]
Abstract
The major archaeal membrane glycerolipids are distinguished from those of bacteria and eukaryotes by the contrasting stereochemistry of their glycerol backbones, and by the use of ether-linked isoprenoid-based alkyl chains rather than ester-linked fatty acyl chains for their hydrophobic moieties. These fascinating compounds play important roles in the extremophile lifestyles of many species, but are also present in the growing numbers of recently discovered mesophilic archaea. The past decade has witnessed significant advances in our understanding of archaea in general and their lipids in particular. Much of the new information has come from the ability to screen large microbial populations via environmental metagenomics, which has revolutionised our understanding of the extent of archaeal biodiversity that is coupled with a strict conservation of their membrane lipid compositions. Significant additional progress has come from new culturing and analytical techniques that are gradually enabling archaeal physiology and biochemistry to be studied in real time. These studies are beginning to shed light on the much-discussed and still-controversial process of eukaryogenesis, which probably involved both bacterial and archaeal progenitors. Puzzlingly, although eukaryotes retain many attributes of their putative archaeal ancestors, their lipid compositions only reflect their bacterial progenitors. Finally, elucidation of archaeal lipids and their metabolic pathways have revealed potentially interesting applications that have opened up new frontiers for biotechnological exploitation of these organisms. This review is concerned with the analysis, structure, function, evolution and biotechnology of archaeal lipids and their associated metabolic pathways.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tomáš Řezanka
- Institute of Microbiology, Czech Academy of Sciences, Vídeňská 1083, 142 00 Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Lucie Kyselová
- Research Institute of Brewing and Malting, Lípová 511, 120 44 Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Denis J Murphy
- School of Applied Sciences, University of South Wales, Pontypridd, CF37 1DL, United Kingdom.
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Videvall E, Burraco P, Orizaola G. Impact of ionizing radiation on the environmental microbiomes of Chornobyl wetlands. ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION (BARKING, ESSEX : 1987) 2023; 330:121774. [PMID: 37178954 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2023.121774] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/17/2023] [Revised: 04/21/2023] [Accepted: 05/02/2023] [Indexed: 05/15/2023]
Abstract
Radioactive contamination has the potential to cause damage to DNA and other biomolecules. Anthropogenic sources of radioactive contamination include accidents in nuclear power plants, such as the one in Chornobyl in 1986 which caused long-term radioactive pollution. Studies on animals within radioactive zones have provided us with a greater understanding of how wildlife can persevere despite chronic radiation exposure. However, we still know very little about the effects of radiation on the microbial communities in the environment. We examined the impact of ionizing radiation and other environmental factors on the diversity and composition of environmental microbiomes in the wetlands of Chornobyl. We combined detailed field sampling along a gradient of radiation together with 16 S rRNA high-throughput metabarcoding. While radiation did not affect the alpha diversity of the microbiomes in sediment, soil, or water, it had a significant effect on the beta diversity in all environment types, indicating that the microbial composition was affected by ionizing radiation. Specifically, we detected several microbial taxa that were more abundant in areas with high radiation levels within the Chornobyl Exclusion Zone, including bacteria and archaea known to be radioresistant. Our results reveal the existence of rich and diverse microbiomes in Chornobyl wetlands, with multiple taxonomic groups that are able to thrive despite the radioactive contamination. These results, together with additional field and laboratory-based approaches examining how microbes cope with ionizing radiation will help to forecast the functionality and re-naturalization dynamics of radiocontaminated environments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elin Videvall
- Department of Ecology, Evolution and Organismal Biology, Brown University, Providence, RI, 02912, USA; Institute at Brown for Environment and Society, Brown University, Providence, RI, 02912, USA; Center for Conservation Genomics, Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute, 20013, Washington, DC, USA; Animal Ecology, Department of Ecology and Genetics, Evolutionary Biology Centre, Uppsala University, 75236, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Pablo Burraco
- Animal Ecology, Department of Ecology and Genetics, Evolutionary Biology Centre, Uppsala University, 75236, Uppsala, Sweden; Doñana Biological Station, Spanish Research Council (EBD-CSIC), 41092, Sevilla, Spain
| | - Germán Orizaola
- IMIB-Biodiversity Research Institute (Univ. Oviedo-CSIC-Princip. Asturias), 33600, Mieres, Asturias, Spain; Zoology Unit, Department of Biology of Organisms and Systems, University of Oviedo, 33071, Oviedo, Asturias, Spain.
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Scheffer G, Hubert CRJ, Enning DR, Lahme S, Mand J, de Rezende JR. Metagenomic Investigation of a Low Diversity, High Salinity Offshore Oil Reservoir. Microorganisms 2021; 9:2266. [PMID: 34835392 PMCID: PMC8621343 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms9112266] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/16/2021] [Revised: 09/27/2021] [Accepted: 09/28/2021] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Oil reservoirs can represent extreme environments for microbial life due to low water availability, high salinity, high pressure and naturally occurring radionuclides. This study investigated the microbiome of saline formation water samples from a Gulf of Mexico oil reservoir. Metagenomic analysis and associated anaerobic enrichment cultures enabled investigations into metabolic potential for microbial activity and persistence in this environment given its high salinity (4.5%) and low nutrient availability. Preliminary 16S rRNA gene amplicon sequencing revealed very low microbial diversity. Accordingly, deep shotgun sequencing resulted in nine metagenome-assembled genomes (MAGs), including members of novel lineages QPJE01 (genus level) within the Halanaerobiaceae, and BM520 (family level) within the Bacteroidales. Genomes of the nine organisms included respiratory pathways such as nitrate reduction (in Arhodomonas, Flexistipes, Geotoga and Marinobacter MAGs) and thiosulfate reduction (in Arhodomonas, Flexistipes and Geotoga MAGs). Genomic evidence for adaptation to high salinity, withstanding radioactivity, and metal acquisition was also observed in different MAGs, possibly explaining their occurrence in this extreme habitat. Other metabolic features included the potential for quorum sensing and biofilm formation, and genes for forming endospores in some cases. Understanding the microbiomes of deep biosphere environments sheds light on the capabilities of uncultivated subsurface microorganisms and their potential roles in subsurface settings, including during oil recovery operations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gabrielle Scheffer
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB T2N 1N4, Canada;
| | - Casey R. J. Hubert
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB T2N 1N4, Canada;
- School of Natural and Environmental Sciences, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne NE1 7RU, UK; (S.L.); (J.R.d.R.)
| | - Dennis R. Enning
- Faculty of Life Sciences and Technology, Berlin University of Applied Sciences and Technology, D-13347 Berlin, Germany;
| | - Sven Lahme
- School of Natural and Environmental Sciences, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne NE1 7RU, UK; (S.L.); (J.R.d.R.)
- Exxon Mobil Upstream Research Company, Spring, TX 77389, USA;
| | - Jaspreet Mand
- Exxon Mobil Upstream Research Company, Spring, TX 77389, USA;
| | - Júlia R. de Rezende
- School of Natural and Environmental Sciences, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne NE1 7RU, UK; (S.L.); (J.R.d.R.)
- The Lyell Centre, Heriot-Watt University, Edinburgh EH14 4AS, UK
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