Dataset Information

Benthic exometabolites and their ecological significance on threatened Caribbean coral reefs (Metabolite collection incubation assays)

ABSTRACT:

Benthic organisms sustain coral reefs through their growth and metabolism, but less is known about how their released metabolites influence reef seawater microorganisms. To investigate metabolite composition of benthic exudates and their ecological significance for reef microbial communities, we harvested exudates from six species of Caribbean benthic organisms including stony corals, octocorals, and an invasive encrusting algae, and subjected these exudates to untargeted and targeted metabolomics approaches using liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry. Incubations with reef seawater microorganisms were conducted to monitor changes in microbial community composition using 16S rRNA gene sequencing and abundance in relation to exudate source and three specific metabolites. Exudates tended to be enriched in amino acids, nucleosides, and vitamins, indicating that benthic organisms contribute labile organic matter to reefs. The phytohormone indole-3-acetic acid was detected in octocoral exudates, suggesting that this metabolite facilitates microbial interactions within and outside of benthic organisms. Exudate compositions were species-specific and significantly enriched in the indole class of metabolites. Microbial abundances and specific microbial taxa responded differently in relation to exudates from stony corals and octocorals, demonstrating the link between benthic organismal composition, metabolite exudates, and microbial growth. Conversely, microbial communities did not respond to additions of the individual metabolites, suggesting that reef microorganisms likely provide diverse metabolite pools that support microbial growth. This work provides novel information about the metabolites released from common Caribbean benthic organisms and indicates that the recent shifts in benthic composition from stony to octocorals alter exudate composition and likely impact microbial community composition and function on coral reefs.

UPLC-MS Metabolite collection incubation assays are reported in the current study MTBLS2855

UPLC-MS Metabolite uptake incubation assay is reported in MTBLS3286

INSTRUMENT(S): Liquid Chromatography MS - negative - reverse phase, Liquid Chromatography MS - positive - reverse phase

SUBMITTER: Laura Weber

PROVIDER: MTBLS2855 | MetaboLights | 2022-08-22

REPOSITORIES: MetaboLights

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Project description:Benthic organisms sustain coral reefs through their growth and metabolism, but less is known about how their released metabolites influence reef seawater microorganisms. To investigate metabolite composition of benthic exudates and their ecological significance for reef microbial communities, we harvested exudates from six species of Caribbean benthic organisms including stony corals, octocorals, and an invasive encrusting algae, and subjected these exudates to untargeted and targeted metabolomics approaches using liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry. Incubations with reef seawater microorganisms were conducted to monitor changes in microbial community composition using 16S rRNA gene sequencing and abundance in relation to exudate source and three specific metabolites. Exudates tended to be enriched in amino acids, nucleosides, and vitamins, indicating that benthic organisms contribute labile organic matter to reefs. The phytohormone indole-3-acetic acid was detected in octocoral exudates, suggesting that this metabolite facilitates microbial interactions within and outside of benthic organisms. Exudate compositions were species-specific and significantly enriched in the indole class of metabolites. Microbial abundances and specific microbial taxa responded differently in relation to exudates from stony corals and octocorals, demonstrating the link between benthic organismal composition, metabolite exudates, and microbial growth. Conversely, microbial communities did not respond to additions of the individual metabolites, suggesting that reef microorganisms likely provide diverse metabolite pools that support microbial growth. This work identifies, quantifies, and compares metabolites released from common Caribbean benthic organisms and indicates that recent shifts in benthic composition from stony to octocorals alter exudate composition and likely impact microbial community composition and function on coral reefs. UPLC-MS Metabolite uptake incubation assay is reported in the current study MTBLS3286UPLC-MS Metabolite collection incubation assays are reported in <a href='https://www.ebi.ac.uk/metabolights/editor/study/MTBLS2855' rel='noopener noreferrer' target='_blank'>MTBLS2855</a>

Project description:Coral reef ecosystems are incredibly diverse marine biomes that rely on nutrient cycling by microorganisms to sustain high productivity in generally oligotrophic regions of the ocean. Understanding the composition of extracellular reef metabolites in seawater, the small organic molecules that serve as the currency for microorganisms, may provide insight into benthic-pelagic coupling as well as the complexity of nutrient cycling in coral reef ecosystems. Jardines de la Reina, Cuba is an ideal environment to examine extracellular metabolites across protected and high-quality reefs. Here, we used metabolic methods to quantify specific known metabolites of interest (targeted approach) and to survey trends in metabolite feature composition (untargeted approach) from surface and reef depth (6 – 14 m) seawater overlying forereefs in Jardines de la Reina. We found that untargeted metabolite feature composition was fairly similar between reef depth and surface seawater across the archipelago, corresponding with other biogeochemical and physicochemical measurements and suggesting that environmental conditions were largely homogenous across forereefs within Jardines de la Reina. Additionally, we quantified 32 of 53 detected metabolites, including amino acids, nucleosides, vitamins, and other metabolic intermediates. Two of the quantified metabolites, riboflavin and 5ʹ-methylthioadenosine (MTA), displayed interesting trends by depth and geographic location, respectively. Riboflavin concentrations were higher in reef depth compared to surface seawater, suggesting that riboflavin may be produced by reef organisms at depth and degraded in the surface through photochemical oxidation. 5ʹ-MTA concentrations increased significantly within the central region of the archipelago, displaying biogeographic patterns that warrant further investigation. Here we lay the groundwork for future investigations of variations in metabolite composition across reefs, sources and sinks of reef metabolites, and changes in metabolites over environmental, temporal, and reef health gradients.

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Benthic exometabolites and their ecological significance on threatened Caribbean coral reefs (Metabolite collection incubation assays)

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