Hydrogen Does Not Appear To Be a Major Electron Donor for Symbiosis with the Deep-Sea Hydrothermal Vent Tubeworm Riftia pachyptila

Abstract

Despite the presence of hydrogenase genes, transcripts, and proteins in the “ Ca . Endoriftia persephone” genome, transcriptome, and proteome, it does not appear that R. pachyptila can use H 2 as a major electron donor. For many uncultivable microorganisms, omic analyses are the basis for inferences about their activities in situ . However, as is apparent from the study reported here, there are dangers in extrapolating from omics data to function, and it is essential, whenever possible, to verify functions predicted from omics data with physiological and biochemical measurements.