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Updated: Nov 16, 2025

Unraveling the Unseen Players in the Ocean - A Field Guide to Water Chemistry and Marine Microbiology
Published on: November 5, 2014
Biogeographic and Evolutionary Patterns of Trace Element Utilization in Marine Microbial World
Yinzhen Xu1, Jiayu Cao2, Liang Jiang3
1Shanghai Institute of Nutrition and Health, Shanghai Institutes for Biological Sciences, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 200031, China; Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Marine Bioresources and Ecology, College of Life Sciences and Oceanography, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen 518055, China; Shenzhen-Hong Kong Institute of Brain Science-Shenzhen Fundamental Research Institutions, Shenzhen 518055, China.
This study reveals the global distribution of trace element-dependent proteins in marine microbes, highlighting their roles in adaptation to environmental conditions and micronutrient utilization.
Area of Science:
- Microbiology
- Biogeochemistry
- Genomics
Background:
- Trace elements are vital for organismal life, acting as key components in enzymes.
- Understanding trace element-dependent proteins in marine microbial communities and their environmental interactions is limited.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the biogeographic distribution of genes encoding trace element-dependent proteins in marine environments.
- To explore the relationships between trace element utilization, environmental stressors, and microbial adaptation.
Main Methods:
- Utilized metagenomic data from the Global Ocean Sampling expedition.
- Identified and analyzed over 56,000 metalloprotein and selenoprotein genes across diverse aquatic samples.
- Examined correlations between elements and relationships with environmental factors.
Main Results:
- Cataloged the largest dataset of marine metalloprotein and selenoprotein genes to date.
- Identified geographical variations in metalloprotein/selenoprotein gene abundance, indicating differential micronutrient usage.
- Found significant correlations between nickel, selenium, and copper utilization.
Conclusions:
- Environmental factors significantly influence the evolution of metalloprotein and selenoprotein genes in marine microbes.
- Provides novel insights into trace element utilization and adaptation in marine microbial ecosystems.
- Offers a foundation for understanding microbial responses to environmental changes.
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