GeoChip-based analysis of the functional gene diversity and metabolic potential of microbial communities in acid mine drainage.

ABSTRACT: Acid mine drainage (AMD) is an extreme environment, usually with low pH and high concentrations of metals. Although the phylogenetic diversity of AMD microbial communities has been examined extensively, little is known about their functional gene diversity and metabolic potential. In this study, a comprehensive functional gene array (GeoChip 2.0) was used to analyze the functional diversity, composition, structure, and metabolic potential of AMD microbial communities from three copper mines in China. GeoChip data indicated that these microbial communities were functionally diverse as measured by the number of genes detected, gene overlapping, unique genes, and various diversity indices. Almost all key functional gene categories targeted by GeoChip 2.0 were detected in the AMD microbial com

SUBMITTER: Xie J 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3028740 | biostudies-literature | 2011 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature