一项使用GeoChip基因阵列装置的研究报告说，在海底热液喷口附近的微生物群落比此前认为的更加多样。
Jizhong Zhou及其同事发现，生活在靠近Juan de Fuca 洋脊（位于太平洋靠近美国和加拿大西海岸附近）的海底烟囱附近的微生物表现出的遗传和代谢相似性很少。此前的研究审视了这样的热液喷口附近的生物数量，但是没有审视它们的多样性。这组作者对一个近来正在形成的烟囱的内外进行了取样，这是由超热的喷出液突然接触到海水形成的。这个烟囱内的微生物仍然与来自这个热液喷口的热水密切接触，而在烟囱之外的微生物接触较冷的开放的海洋。
这组科学家比较了这个烟囱内外的微生物的新陈代谢基因，结果发现这些微生物群落的遗传相似性小于1%，这表明了海底热液喷口附近的微生物种群的动态而迅速的变化。这组作者的出结论说，海底热液喷口周围陡峭的化学和温度梯度很可能对这些变化有贡献。（生物谷Bioon.com）
生物谷推荐原始出处：
PNAS March 9, 2009, doi: 10.1073/pnas.0810418106
GeoChip-based analysis of metabolic diversity of microbial communities at the Juan de Fuca Ridge hydrothermal vent
Fengping Wanga,12, Huaiyang Zhoub,1, Jun Mengc,1, Xiaotong Pengb, Lijing Jianga, Ping Sunc, Chuanlun Zhangd, Joy D. Van Nostrande, Ye Denge, Zhili Hee, Liyou Wue, Jizhong Zhoue,3 and Xiang Xiaoa,23
aKey Laboratory of Marine Biogenetic Resources, Third Institute of Oceanography, State Oceanic Administration, Xiamen 361005, People's Republic of China;
bDepartment of Marine and Earth Sciences, Tongji University, Shanghai 200092, People's Republic of China;
cSchool of Life Sciences, Xiamen University, Xiamen 361005, People's Republic of China;
dDepartment of Marine Sciences, University of Georgia, Athens, GA 30602; and
eInstitute for Environmental Genomics, Department of Botany and Microbiology, University of Oklahoma, Norman, OK 73019
1F.W., H.Z., and J.M. contributed equally to this work.
Abstract
Deep-sea hydrothermal vents are one of the most unique and fascinating ecosystems on Earth. Although phylogenetic diversity of vent communities has been extensively examined, their physiological diversity is poorly understood. In this study, a GeoChip-based, high-throughput metagenomics technology revealed dramatic differences in microbial metabolic functions in a newly grown protochimney (inner section, Proto-I; outer section, Proto-O) and the outer section of a mature chimney (4143-1) at the Juan de Fuca Ridge. Very limited numbers of functional genes were detected in Proto-I (113 genes), whereas much higher numbers of genes were detected in Proto-O (504 genes) and 4143-1 (5,414 genes). Microbial functional genes/populations in Proto-O and Proto-I were substantially different (around 1% common genes), suggesting a rapid change in the microbial community composition during the growth of the chimney. Previously retrieved cbbL and cbbM genes involved in the Calvin Benson Bassham (CBB) cycle from deep-sea hydrothermal vents were predominant in Proto-O and 4143-1, whereas photosynthetic green-like cbbL genes were the major components in Proto-I. In addition, genes involved in methanogenesis, aerobic and anaerobic methane oxidation (e.g., ANME1 and ANME2), nitrification, denitrification, sulfate reduction, degradation of complex carbon substrates, and metal resistance were also detected. Clone libraries supported the GeoChip results but were less effective than the microarray in delineating microbial populations of low biomass. Overall, these results suggest that the hydrothermal microbial communities are metabolically and physiologically highly diverse, and the communities appear to be undergoing rapid dynamic succession and adaptation in response to the steep temperature and chemical gradients across the chimney.
