Cuatro Cienegas Lagunita Fertilization Experiement

Applying a trait-based framework to metagenomics data from a replicated nutrient enrichment experiment in a highly oligotrophic pond in Cuatro Cienegas, Mexico, we investigated the role of universal genomic traits involved in the informational underpinnings of metabolism in mediating community responses to altered growth and trophic conditions. Taxa that dominate under nutrient-enriched conditions had increased capacities for information processing (such as translation) and catabolism, including augmented genome size, optimization of codons (codon usage bias), and numbers of tRNA and rRNA genes, whereas those found in oligotrophic conditions had genomic traits reducing costs for information storage and processing, such as favoring nucleobases adenine and thymine over guanine and cytosine (lower GC content). These results highlight how all different components of metabolism—information, energy, and material requirements and transformations—must be fine-tuned to the growth and trophic strategy of organisms.

本研究将基于性状的研究框架，应用于墨西哥夸特罗谢内加斯（Cuatro Cienegas）一处高度贫营养池塘的重复营养富集实验所获宏基因组学（metagenomics）数据，旨在探究参与代谢信息基础构建的通用基因组性状，在介导群落对改变的生长与营养条件的响应过程中所发挥的作用。在营养富集条件下占据优势的微生物类群，其信息处理（如翻译（translation））与分解代谢能力显著提升，具体体现为基因组尺寸增大、密码子优化（密码子使用偏好性（codon usage bias））以及转运RNA（tRNA）与核糖体RNA（rRNA）基因数量增多；而在贫营养条件下检出的类群，则具备降低信息存储与处理成本的基因组性状，例如相较于鸟嘌呤（guanine）与胞嘧啶（cytosine），更偏好腺嘌呤（adenine）与胸腺嘧啶（thymine）（即更低的GC含量（GC content））。本研究结果凸显：代谢的各类组成部分——信息、能量、物质需求与转化过程——均需与生物体的生长及营养策略实现精准适配。