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A framework for understanding collective microbiome metabolism.

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Microbiome members perform partial metabolism due to natural selection for proteome efficiency. This individual optimization drives collective metabolism and ecosystem functions through shared metabolic intermediates.

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Area of Science:

  • Microbial ecology
  • Metabolic biochemistry
  • Evolutionary biology

Background:

  • Microbiome metabolism is crucial for ecosystem functions.
  • Individual microbes often exhibit partial metabolic capabilities.
  • A mechanistic framework explaining this partial metabolism and functional distribution is lacking.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To propose a framework explaining partial metabolism in microbiome members.
  • To elucidate how metabolic functions are distributed within microbiomes.
  • To link individual proteome efficiency to collective microbiome metabolism.

Main Methods:

  • Theoretical framework development.
  • Analysis of metabolic fluxes and protein investment.
  • Case study using the carbon cycle.

Main Results:

  • Natural selection for proteome efficiency drives partial metabolism in individual microbes.
  • Partial metabolism enables efficient collective metabolism within microbiomes.
  • Specific metabolic motifs and interactions arise under conditions favoring proteome efficiency.

Conclusions:

  • Proteome efficiency is a key driver of partial metabolism in microbiomes.
  • This individual-level selection leads to emergent collective metabolic functions.
  • The proposed framework explains functional distribution and metabolic interactions in microbial communities.