Metabolic Potential and Microbial Diversity of Late Archean to Early Proterozoic Ocean Analog Hot Springs of Japan.

ABSTRACT: Circumneutral iron-rich hot springs may represent analogues of Neoarchean to Paleoproterozoic oceans of early Earth, potentially providing windows into ancient microbial ecology. Here we sampled five Japanese hot springs to gain insights into functional processes and taxonomic diversity in these analog environments. Amplicon and metagenomic sequencing confirm a hypothesis where taxonomy is distinct between sites and linked to the geochemical setting. Metabolic functions shared among the springs include carbon fixation via the reductive pentose phosphate cycle, nitrogen fixation, and dissimilatory iron oxidation/reduction. Among the sites, Kowakubi was unique in that it was dominated by Hydrogenophilaceae, a group known for performing hydrogen oxidation, motivating a hypothesis that H₂

SUBMITTER: Li-Hau F 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12501874 | biostudies-literature | 2025

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature