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Molecular composition and ultrastructure of Jurassic paravian feathers.

ABSTRACT: Feathers are amongst the most complex epidermal structures known, and they have a well-documented evolutionary trajectory across non-avian dinosaurs and basal birds. Moreover, melanosome-like microbodies preserved in association with fossil plumage have been used to reconstruct original colour, behaviour and physiology. However, these putative ancient melanosomes might alternatively represent microorganismal residues, a conflicting interpretation compounded by a lack of unambiguous chemical data. We therefore used sensitive molecular imaging, supported by multiple independent analytical tests, to demonstrate that the filamentous epidermal appendages in a new specimen of the Jurassic paravian Anchiornis comprise remnant eumelanosomes and fibril-like microstructures, preserved as endogenous eumelanin and authigenic calcium phosphate. These results provide novel insights into the early evolution of feathers at the sub-cellular level, and unequivocally determine that melanosomes can be preserved in fossil feathers.

SUBMITTER: Lindgren J

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4550916 | biostudies-literature | 2015 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Molecular composition and ultrastructure of Jurassic paravian feathers.

Lindgren Johan J Sjövall Peter P Carney Ryan M RM Cincotta Aude A Uvdal Per P Hutcheson Steven W SW Gustafsson Ola O Lefèvre Ulysse U Escuillié François F Heimdal Jimmy J Engdahl Anders A Gren Johan A JA Kear Benjamin P BP Wakamatsu Kazumasa K Yans Johan J Godefroit Pascal P

Scientific reports 20150827

Feathers are amongst the most complex epidermal structures known, and they have a well-documented evolutionary trajectory across non-avian dinosaurs and basal birds. Moreover, melanosome-like microbodies preserved in association with fossil plumage have been used to reconstruct original colour, behaviour and physiology. However, these putative ancient melanosomes might alternatively represent microorganismal residues, a conflicting interpretation compounded by a lack of unambiguous chemical data ...[more]

PMID: 26311035

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Project description:Methane is a very potent greenhouse gas and can be oxidized aerobically or anaerobically through microbe-mediated processes, thus decreasing methane emissions in the atmosphere. Using a complementary array of methods, including phylogenetic analysis, physiological experiments, and light and electron microscopy techniques (including electron tomography), we investigated the community composition and ultrastructure of a continuous bioreactor enrichment culture, in which anaerobic oxidation of methane (AOM) was coupled to nitrate reduction. A membrane bioreactor was seeded with AOM biomass and continuously fed with excess methane. After 150 days, the bioreactor reached a daily consumption of 10 mmol nitrate · liter-1 · day-1 The biomass consisted of aggregates that were dominated by nitrate-dependent anaerobic methane-oxidizing "Candidatus Methanoperedens"-like archaea (40%) and nitrite-dependent anaerobic methane-oxidizing "Candidatus Methylomirabilis"-like bacteria (50%). The "Ca Methanoperedens" spp. were identified by fluorescence in situ hybridization and immunogold localization of the methyl-coenzyme M reductase (Mcr) enzyme, which was located in the cytoplasm. The "Ca Methanoperedens" sp. aggregates consisted of slightly irregular coccoid cells (∼1.5-μm diameter) which produced extruding tubular structures and putative cell-to-cell contacts among each other. "Ca Methylomirabilis" sp. bacteria exhibited the polygonal cell shape typical of this genus. In AOM archaea and bacteria, cytochrome c proteins were localized in the cytoplasm and periplasm, respectively, by cytochrome staining. Our results indicate that AOM bacteria and archaea might work closely together in the process of anaerobic methane oxidation, as the bacteria depend on the archaea for nitrite. Future studies will be aimed at elucidating the function of the cell-to-cell interactions in nitrate-dependent AOM.IMPORTANCE Microorganisms performing nitrate- and nitrite-dependent anaerobic methane oxidation are important in both natural and man-made ecosystems, such as wastewater treatment plants. In both systems, complex microbial interactions take place that are largely unknown. Revealing these microbial interactions would enable us to understand how the oxidation of the important greenhouse gas methane occurs in nature and pave the way for the application of these microbes in wastewater treatment plants. Here, we elucidated the microbial composition, ultrastructure, and physiology of a nitrate-dependent AOM community of archaea and bacteria and describe the cell plan of "Ca Methanoperedens"-like methanotrophic archaea.

Dataset Information

Molecular composition and ultrastructure of Jurassic paravian feathers.

Publications

Molecular composition and ultrastructure of Jurassic paravian feathers.

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