Metagenomics-Guided Discovery of Potential Bacterial Metallothionein Genes from the Soil Microbiome That Confer Cu and/or Cd Resistance.

ABSTRACT: Metallothionein (MT) genes are valuable genetic materials for developing metal bioremediation tools. Currently, a limited number of prokaryotic MTs have been experimentally identified, which necessitates the expansion of bacterial MT diversity. In this study, we conducted a metagenomics-guided analysis for the discovery of potential bacterial MT genes from the soil microbiome. More specifically, we combined resistance gene enrichment through diversity loss, metagenomic mining with a dedicated MT database, evolutionary trace analysis, DNA chemical synthesis, and functional genomic validation to identify novel MTs. Results showed that Cu stress induced a compositional change in the soil microbiome, with an enrichment of metal-resistant bacteria in soils with higher Cu concentrations. Shotgun

SUBMITTER: Li X 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7170490 | biostudies-literature | 2020 Apr

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature