Physiological adaptations to serpentinization in the Samail Ophiolite, Oman.

ABSTRACT: Hydration of ultramafic rock during the geologic process of serpentinization can generate reduced substrates that microorganisms may use to fuel their carbon and energy metabolisms. However, serpentinizing environments also place multiple constraints on microbial life by generating highly reduced hyperalkaline waters that are limited in dissolved inorganic carbon. To better understand how microbial life persists under these conditions, we performed geochemical measurements on waters from a serpentinizing environment and subjected planktonic microbial cells to metagenomic and physiological analyses. Metabolic potential inferred from metagenomes correlated with fluid type, and genes involved in anaerobic metabolisms were enriched in hyperalkaline waters. The abundance of planktonic cells and

SUBMITTER: Fones EM 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6588467 | biostudies-literature | 2019 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature