Prevalence of Ca²⁺-ATPase-mediated carbonate dissolution among cyanobacterial euendoliths.

ABSTRACT: Recent physiological work has shown that the filamentous euendolithic cyanobacterium Mastigocoleus testarum (strain BC008) is able to bore into solid carbonates using Ca²⁺-ATPases to take up Ca²⁺ from the medium at the excavation front, promoting dissolution of CaCO₃ there. It is not known, however, if this is a widespread mechanism or, rather, a unique capability of this model strain. To test this, we undertook a survey of multispecies euendolithic microbial assemblages infesting natural carbonate substrates in marine coastal waters of the Caribbean, Mediterranean, South Pacific, and Sea of Cortez. Microscopic examination revealed the presence of complex assemblages of euendoliths, encompassing 3 out of the 5 major cyanobacterial orders. 16S rRNA gene clone libraries detected even greater

SUBMITTER: Ramirez-Reinat EL 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3255639 | biostudies-literature | 2012 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature