Mercury Methylation Genes Identified across Diverse Anaerobic Microbial Guilds in a Eutrophic Sulfate-Enriched Lake
Benjamin D. Peterson, Elizabeth McDaniel, Anna G. Schmidt, Ryan F. Lepak, Sarah E. Janssen, Patricia Q. Tran, Robert A. Marick, Jacob M. Ogorek, John F. DeWild, David P. Krabbenhoft, Katherine D. McMahon
Abstract
gene coverage. Many of these organisms also mediate hydrolysis of polysaccharides, likely from cyanobacterial blooms. This work highlights the distribution of the Hg-methylation genes across microbial metabolic guilds and indicate that primary degradation of polysaccharides and fermentation may play an important but unrecognized role in MeHg production in the anoxic hypolimnion of freshwater lakes.
Topics & Concepts
MethylmercuryAnoxic watersMetagenomicsBiologyHypolimnionBacteroidetesMicrobiomeMercury (programming language)BioaccumulationEcologyEutrophicationBacteriaGeneNutrientGenetics16S ribosomal RNAProgramming languageComputer scienceMercury impact and mitigation studiesMicrobial Community Ecology and PhysiologyWater Treatment and Disinfection