Codon bias, nucleotide selection, and genome size predict in situ bacterial growth rate and transcription in rewetted soil.

ABSTRACT: In soils, the first rain after a prolonged dry period represents a major pulse event impacting soil microbial community function, yet we lack a full understanding of the genomic traits associated with the microbial response to rewetting. Genomic traits such as codon usage bias and genome size have been linked to bacterial growth in soils-however, often through measurements in culture. Here, we used metagenome-assembled genomes (MAGs) with ¹⁸O-water stable isotope probing and metatranscriptomics to track genomic traits associated with growth and transcription of soil microorganisms over one week following rewetting of a grassland soil. We found that codon bias in ribosomal protein genes was the strongest predictor of growth rate. We also found higher growth rates in bacteria with

SUBMITTER: Chuckran PF 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11761963 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature