Anaerobic Sulfur Oxidation Underlies Adaptation of a Chemosynthetic Symbiont to Oxic-Anoxic Interfaces
Gabriela F. Paredes, Tobias Viehboeck, Raymond Lee, Márton Palatinszky, Michaela A. Mausz, Siegfried Reipert, Arno Schintlmeister, A. Maier, Jean‐Marie Volland, Claudia Hirschfeld, Michael Wagner, David Berry, Stephanie Markert, Silvia Bulgheresi, Lena König
Abstract
Thiosymbion oneisti," a gammaproteobacterium which lives attached to marine nematodes inhabiting shallow-water sand. Surprisingly, sulfur oxidation genes were upregulated under anoxic relative to oxic conditions. Furthermore, under anoxia, the ectosymbiont appeared to be less stressed and to proliferate more. We propose that animal-mediated access to oxygen, rather than enhancing sulfur oxidation, would facilitate assimilation of carbon and nitrogen by the ectosymbiont.
Topics & Concepts
Anoxic watersChemosynthesisSulfurAdaptation (eye)Anaerobic exerciseExtreme environmentChemistryGeologyEnvironmental chemistryPaleontologyBiologyHydrothermal ventBacteriaPhysiologyOrganic chemistryHydrothermal circulationNeuroscienceMicrobial Fuel Cells and BioremediationMetal Extraction and BioleachingRadioactive element chemistry and processing