A Bait-and-Switch strategy links phenotypes to genes coding for Polymer-Degrading Enzymes in Intact Microbiomes.

ABSTRACT: Advances in next generation sequencing have made it possible to explore microbial community dynamics and regulation of functionally important genes through metagenomics and metatranscriptomics. However, the use of meta-omics to link enzyme function directly with complex, community-level phenotypes remain largely unexplored. To overcome this gap, we developed a novel framework that integrates ecological concepts by microbial community perturbation with association analysis to a targeted phenotype. Specifically, we introduce a hypothesis-free "bait and switch" strategy demonstrated through salt marsh soil microcosm pulse experiments to detect and characterize novel enzymes responsible for chitin degradation. Soil microbial communities were "baited" with shell compost, a chitin-rich substrate

SUBMITTER: Yancey CE 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12632509 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature