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Bacterial genome replication at subzero temperatures in permafrost.

Steven J Tuorto1, Phillip Darias1, Lora R McGuinness1

  • 1Institute of Marine and Coastal Science, School of Environmental and Biological Sciences, Rutgers University, New Brunswick, NJ, USA.

The ISME Journal
|August 30, 2013
PubMed
Summary

Microbes in frozen permafrost grow and replicate DNA even at -20°C. Stable isotope probing revealed that 80% of detected bacteria were active, with some responding to small temperature shifts, impacting soil carbon cycling.

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Area of Science:

  • Microbial Ecology
  • Geomicrobiology
  • Permafrost Science

Background:

  • Permafrost contains a significant portion of global soil organic matter, with microbial life active at subzero temperatures.
  • Previous studies lacked methods to identify specific microorganisms responsible for permafrost metabolic activity or their response to temperature changes.
  • Understanding microbial activity in permafrost is crucial for predicting carbon cycling in these vast frozen environments.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To demonstrate bacterial genome replication in Alaskan permafrost using stable isotope probing at subzero temperatures (0 to -20°C).
  • To identify specific bacterial taxa active at subzero temperatures and assess their response to varying low temperatures.
  • To understand the implications of microbial community shifts for biogeochemical cycling in permafrost.

Main Methods:

  • Utilized stable isotope probing with Carbon-13 labeled acetate ((13)C-acetate) to track microbial activity.
  • Incubated permafrost microcosms for 6 months at temperatures ranging from 0 to -20°C.
  • Performed phylogenetic analysis of (13)C-labeled 16S ribosomal RNA (rRNA) genes to identify active bacterial taxa.

Main Results:

  • The majority (80%) of detected operational taxonomic units (OTUs) in permafrost microcosms synthesized (13)C-labeled DNA, indicating active genome replication.
  • Bacterial activity was observed across the entire experimental temperature range (0 to -20°C), with some taxa active across all temperatures and others showing narrow temperature preferences.
  • Active subzero bacteria belonged to Acidobacteria, Actinobacteria, Chloroflexi, Gemmatimonadetes, and Proteobacteria phyla, many distantly related to known psychrophiles.

Conclusions:

  • Bacterial communities in permafrost exhibit genome replication and activity at temperatures down to -20°C.
  • Small changes in subzero temperatures can significantly alter the composition of the active microbial community in permafrost.
  • These temperature-driven shifts in microbial communities have potential consequences for carbon and nutrient cycling in permanently frozen ecosystems.