Metabolic challenges and key players in serpentinite-hosted microbial ecosystems

Frontiers in Microbiology

Microbiology

Anne Postec¹  Rabja Maria Popall¹  Marianne Quéméneur¹  Aurélien Lecoeuvre¹  Gaël Erauso² 

[1] Aix-Marseille Univ, Univ Toulon, CNRS, IRD, MIO, Marseille, France;null;

关键词: serpentinization;    alkaline hydrothermal system;    alkaliphile;    hydrogenotroph;    lithotroph;    submarine alkaline vent theory;    origin of life;   

DOI  :  10.3389/fmicb.2023.1197823

 received in 2023-03-31, accepted in 2023-06-29,  发布年份 2023

来源: Frontiers

【 摘 要 】

Serpentinite-hosted systems are amongst the most challenging environments for life on Earth. Serpentinization, a geochemical alteration of exposed ultramafic rock, produces hydrothermal fluids enriched in abiotically derived hydrogen (H2), methane (CH4), and small organic molecules. The hyperalkaline pH of these fluids poses a great challenge for metabolic energy and nutrient acquisition, curbing the cellular membrane potential and limiting electron acceptor, carbon, and phosphorous availability. Nevertheless, serpentinization supports the growth of diverse microbial communities whose metabolic make-up might shed light on the beginning of life on Earth and potentially elsewhere. Here, we outline current hypotheses on metabolic energy production, carbon fixation, and nutrient acquisition in serpentinizing environments. A taxonomic survey is performed for each important metabolic function, highlighting potential key players such as H2 and CH4 cycling Serpentinimonas, Hydrogenophaga, Methanobacteriales, Methanosarcinales, and novel candidate phyla. Methodological biases of the available data and future approaches are discussed.

【 授权许可】

Unknown   
Copyright © 2023 Popall, Postec, Lecoeuvre, Quéméneur and Erauso.