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The Evolution Pathway of Ammonia-Oxidizing Archaea Shaped by Major Geological Events
Yiyan Yang1, Chuanlun Zhang2,3,4, Timothy M Lenton5
1Department of Gastroenterology, Shanghai 10th People's Hospital, School of Life Sciences and Technology, Tongji University, Shanghai, China.
Molecular Biology and Evolution
|May 16, 2021
Summary
Ammonia-oxidizing archaea (AOA) originated in ancient geothermal environments, evolving over billions of years. Their diversification timeline reveals key evolutionary steps linked to Earth's geological history and the nitrogen cycle.
Area of Science:
- Microbiology
- Geology
- Evolutionary Biology
Background:
- The biological origins of primordial nitrification remain unclear, despite extensive geochemical studies.
- Ammonia-oxidizing archaea (AOA) are crucial nitrifiers, performing the rate-limiting step in nitrification and hypothesized as key players in Earth's early nitrogen cycle.
Purpose of the Study:
- To elucidate the diversification timeline of Ammonia-oxidizing archaea (AOA) evolution.
- To understand the geological forces that shaped AOA evolutionary pathways.
Main Methods:
- Systematic phylogenomic analyses.
- Marker gene analyses.
- Integration with geochemical evidence and modeling.
Main Results:
- The AOA ancestor originated in terrestrial geothermal environments around 1,165 Ma.
- AOA evolved into mesophilic soils around 652 Ma and diversified into marine settings around 509 Ma.
- Key diversification nodes correlate with global magmatism, glaciation (Rodinia supercontinent), and deep ocean oxygenation.
Conclusions:
- AOA evolution is intricately linked to major geological events throughout Earth's history.
- These findings illuminate the evolutionary history of AOA and their role in the ancient global nitrogen cycle.
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