Gypsum endolithic phototrophs under moderate climate (Southern Sicily): their diversity and pigment composition

Frontiers in Microbiology

Microbiology

Jacek Wierzchos¹  Andreja Kust²  Lenka Procházková³  Linda Nedbalová³  Jan Zima⁴  Eva Nováková⁴  Jan Žemlička⁵  Jan Dudák⁵  Veronika Tymlová⁵  Adam Culka⁶  Filip Košek⁶  Jan Jehlička⁶  Kateřina Němečková⁶  Jan Mareš⁷ 

[1] Department of Biochemistry and Microbial Ecology, Museo Nacional de Ciencias Naturales - Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas, Madrid, Spain;Department of Earth and Planetary Science, University of Berkeley, Berkeley, CA, United States;Innovative Genomics Institute, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA, United States;Department of Ecology, Faculty of Science, Charles University, Prague, Czechia;Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Science, University of South Bohemia, České Budějovice, Czechia;Institute of Experimental and Applied Physics, Czech Technical University in Prague, Prague, Czechia;Institute of Geochemistry, Mineralogy and Mineral Resources, Faculty of Science, Charles University, Prague, Czechia;Institute of Hydrobiology, Biology Centre of the Czech Academy of Sciences, České Budějovice, Czechia;Center Algatech, Institute of Microbiology, The Czech Academy of Sciences, Třeboň, Czechia;

关键词: endoliths;    gypsum;    phototrophs;    cyanobacteria;    green algae;    metagenomics;   

DOI  :  10.3389/fmicb.2023.1175066

 received in 2023-02-27, accepted in 2023-05-15,  发布年份 2023

来源: Frontiers

【 摘 要 】

In this study, we used microscopic, spectroscopic, and molecular analysis to characterize endolithic colonization in gypsum (selenites and white crystalline gypsum) from several sites in Sicily. Our results showed that the dominant microorganisms in these environments are cyanobacteria, including: Chroococcidiopsis sp., Gloeocapsopsis pleurocapsoides, Gloeocapsa compacta, and Nostoc sp., as well as orange pigmented green microalgae from the Stephanospherinia clade. Single cell and filament sequencing coupled with 16S rRNA amplicon metagenomic profiling provided new insights into the phylogenetic and taxonomic diversity of the endolithic cyanobacteria. These organisms form differently pigmented zones within the gypsum. Our metagenomic profiling also showed differences in the taxonomic composition of endoliths in different gypsum varieties. Raman spectroscopy revealed that carotenoids were the most common pigments present in the samples. Other pigments such as gloeocapsin and scytonemin were also detected in the near-surface areas, suggesting that they play a significant role in the biology of endoliths in this environment. These pigments can be used as biomarkers for basic taxonomic identification, especially in case of cyanobacteria. The findings of this study provide new insights into the diversity and distribution of phototrophic microorganisms and their pigments in gypsum in Southern Sicily. Furthemore, this study highlights the complex nature of endolithic ecosystems and the effects of gypsum varieties on these communities, providing additional information on the general bioreceptivity of these environments.

【 授权许可】

Unknown   
Copyright © 2023 Němečková, Mareš, Procházková, Culka, Košek, Wierzchos, Nedbalová, Dudák, Tymlová, Žemlička, Kust, Zima, Nováková and Jehlička.