Microarray-based characterization of microbial community functional structure and heterogeneity in marine sediments from the Gulf of Mexico.

ABSTRACT: Marine sediments of coastal margins are important sites of carbon sequestration and nitrogen cycling. To determine the metabolic potential and structure of marine sediment microbial communities, two cores were collected each from the two stations (GMT at a depth of 200 m and GMS at 800 m) in the Gulf of Mexico, and six subsamples representing different depths were analyzed from each of these two cores using functional gene arrays containing approximately 2,000 probes targeting genes involved in carbon fixation; organic carbon degradation; contaminant degradation; metal resistance; and nitrogen, sulfur, and phosphorous cycling. The geochemistry was highly variable for the sediments based on both site and depth. A total of 930 (47.1%) probes belonging to various functional gene categories sh

SUBMITTER: Wu L 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC2493184 | biostudies-literature | 2008 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature