biostudies-literatureRay AEDepartment of Education and Training | Australian Research CouncilDepartment of Education and Training | Australian Research Council (ARC)Department of Health | National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC)Department of Health | National Health and Medical Research Council2547-2560https://www.ebi.ac.uk/biostudies/studies/S-EPMC9561532biostudies-literatureUnknown16(11)Cold desert soil microbiomes thrive despite severe moisture and nutrient limitations. In Eastern Antarctic soils, bacterial primary production is supported by trace gas oxidation and the light-independent RuBisCO form IE. This study aims to determine if atmospheric chemosynthesis is widespread within Antarctic, Arctic and Tibetan cold deserts, to identify the breadth of trace gas chemosynthetic taxa and to further characterize the genetic determinants of this process. H₂ oxidation was ubiquitous, far exceeding rates reported to fulfill the maintenance needs of similarly structured edaphic microbiomes. Atmospheric chemosynthesis occurred globally, contributing significantly (p < 0.05) to carbon fixation in Antarctica and the high Arctic. Taxonomic and functional analyses were perThe ISME journalAtmospheric chemosynthesis is phylogenetically and geographically widespread and contributes significantly to carbon fixation throughout cold deserts.PMC9561532FT170100341APP5191146Zaugg JRay AEMontgomery KBay SJi MTerauds AFerrari BCBenaud NWong HLGreening CCowan DAWilliams TJLeung PMChelliah DSHugenholtz PKong WfalseAtmospheric chemosynthesis is phylogenetically and geographically widespread and contributes significantly to carbon fixation throughout cold deserts.Cold desert soil microbiomes thrive despite severe moisture and nutrient limitations. In Eastern Antarctic soils, bacterial primary production is supported by trace gas oxidation and the light-independent RuBisCO form IE. This study aims to determine if atmospheric chemosynthesis is widespread within Antarctic, Arctic and Tibetan cold deserts, to identify the breadth of trace gas chemosynthetic taxa and to further characterize the genetic determinants of this process. H₂ oxidation was ubiquitous, far exceeding rates reported to fulfill the maintenance needs of similarly structured edaphic microbiomes. Atmospheric chemosynthesis occurred globally, contributing significantly (p < 0.05) to carbon fixation in Antarctica and the high Arctic. Taxonomic and functional analyses were per2022-01-01T00:00:00Z2022 Nov2026-05-31T09:58:05.873Z2024-11-07T03:11:21.208ZS-EPMC95615323593349910.1038/s41396-022-01298-5