Novel taxa of Acidobacteriota involved in seafloor sulfur cycling

Abstract

AbstractAcidobacteriota are widespread and often abundant in marine sediments, yet their metabolic and ecological properties are poorly understood. Here, we examined metabolisms and distributions of Acidobacteriota in marine sediments of Svalbard by functional predictions from metagenome-assembled genomes (MAGs), amplicon sequencing of 16S rRNA and dissimilatory sulfite reductase (dsrB) genes and transcripts, and gene expression analyses of tetrathionate-amended microcosms. Acidobacteriota were the second most abundantdsrB-harboring (averaging 13%) phylum after Desulfobacterota in Svalbard sediments, and represented 4% ofdsrBtranscripts on average. We propose two new Acidobacteriota genera,CandidatusSulfomarinibacter (class Thermoanaerobaculia, ‘sub-division 23’) andCa. Polarisedimenticola (‘sub-division 22’), with distinct genetic properties that may explain their distributions in biogeochemically distinct fjord sediments.Ca. Sulfomarinibacter encodes flexible respiratory routes, with potential for oxygen, nitrous oxide, metal-oxide, tetrathionate, sulfur and sulfite/sulfate respiration, and possibly sulfur disproportionation. Potential nutrients and energy include cellulose, proteins, cyanophycin, hydrogen and acetate. ACa. Polarisedimenticola MAG encodes enzymes to degrade proteins, and to reduce oxygen, nitrate, sulfur/polysulfide and metal-oxides. 16S rRNA gene and transcript profiling showedCa. Sulfomarinibacter members were relatively abundant and transcriptionally active in sulfidic fjord sediments, whileCa. Polarisedimenticola members were more relatively abundant in metal-rich fjord sediments. Overall, we reveal various physiological features of uncultured marine Acidobacteriota that indicate fundamental roles in seafloor biogeochemical cycling.