Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 5, 2026

An Aquatic Microbial Metaproteomics Workflow: From Cells to Tryptic Peptides Suitable for Tandem Mass Spectrometry-based Analysis
Published on: September 15, 2015
Taxonomic and Functional Comparative Metagenomics of Peruvian Salterns: Insights into Microbial Communities and
Carol N Flores-Fernández1,2, Thomas K Hiron1, Dragana Dobrijevic3
1Centre for Human Genetics, Nuffield Department of Medicine, University of Oxford, Roosevelt Drive, Oxford OX3 7BN, UK.
Abstract:
Metagenomic analysis of extreme environments is essential in biotechnological research. This work aimed to determine and compare the microbial diversity of two Peruvian saline environments and characterise their functional profiles. Soil metagenomic DNA (mDNA) was analysed from Maras and Pilluana salterns, both with a thalassohaline origin but with different geographical and environmental conditions. Maras samples exhibited more diversity and a remarkably higher abundance of archaea (phylum Euryarchaeota). The most dominant bacterial phyla across all the samples were Pseudomonadota and Actinomycetota. Multiple pathways specific to archaea were more abundant in Maras, as were pathway-related synthesis and degradation of compatible osmolytes such as glycine betaine and ectoine. The most abundant pathways in Pilluana were associated with fatty acid biosynthesis and oxidation. A total of 49 and 47 metagenomic-assembled genomes (MAGs) were retrieved from Maras and Pilluana samples, respectively. Bacterial MAGs were mainly classified within the phyla Psudomonadota, Actinomycetota, Planctomycetota, and Gemmatimonadota. Additionally, a total of 20 putative aminotransferases class III (ATs, PF00202) from Maras3 were cloned and expressed in E. coli Rosetta, and their substrate scoping was assayed against several aldehyde and ketone substrates; AT pQR3082 and pQR3090 showed unique broad substrate acceptance for aromatic and aliphatic substrates. Our study provides new insights into the microorganisms and metabolic pathways of these unique extreme environments, highlighting the promising biotechnological potential of metagenomic ATs.
More Related Videos
09:06Removal of Exogenous Materials from the Outer Portion of Frozen Cores to Investigate the Ancient Biological Communities Harbored Inside
Published on: July 3, 2016
09:55Exploring the Root Microbiome: Extracting Bacterial Community Data from the Soil, Rhizosphere, and Root Endosphere
Published on: May 2, 2018
Related Concept Videos
Metabolism of Chemolithotrophs
Deep Sea Microbial Ecology
Marine Microbial Ecology
Microbial Mats
Diversity of Protists I
Overview of Archaea