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Culexarchaeia, a novel archaeal class of anaerobic generalists inhabiting geothermal environments.

Authors :
Kohtz AJ
Jay ZJ
Lynes MM
Krukenberg V
Hatzenpichler R
Source :
ISME communications [ISME Commun] 2022 Sep 20; Vol. 2 (1), pp. 86. Date of Electronic Publication: 2022 Sep 20.
Publication Year :
2022

Abstract

Geothermal environments, including terrestrial hot springs and deep-sea hydrothermal sediments, often contain many poorly understood lineages of archaea. Here, we recovered ten metagenome-assembled genomes (MAGs) from geothermal sediments and propose that they constitute a new archaeal class within the TACK superphylum, "Candidatus Culexarchaeia", named after the Culex Basin in Yellowstone National Park. Culexarchaeia harbor distinct sets of proteins involved in key cellular processes that are either phylogenetically divergent or are absent from other closely related TACK lineages, with a particular divergence in cell division and cytoskeletal proteins. Metabolic reconstruction revealed that Culexarchaeia have the capacity to metabolize a wide variety of organic and inorganic substrates. Notably, Culexarchaeia encode a unique modular, membrane associated, and energy conserving [NiFe]-hydrogenase complex that potentially interacts with heterodisulfide reductase (Hdr) subunits. Comparison of this [NiFe]-hydrogenase complex with similar complexes from other archaea suggests that interactions between membrane associated [NiFe]-hydrogenases and Hdr may be more widespread than previously appreciated in both methanogenic and non-methanogenic lifestyles. The analysis of Culexarchaeia further expands our understanding of the phylogenetic and functional diversity of lineages within the TACK superphylum and the ecology, physiology, and evolution of these organisms in extreme environments.<br /> (© 2022. The Author(s).)

Details

Language :
English
ISSN :
2730-6151
Volume :
2
Issue :
1
Database :
MEDLINE
Journal :
ISME communications
Publication Type :
Academic Journal
Accession number :
37938354
Full Text :
https://doi.org/10.1038/s43705-022-00175-8