Acidilobus-like populations. hot springs metagenome

The primary goals of the current study were to analyze and compare replicate de novo sequence assemblies of Acidilobus-like populations (order Desulfurococcales) from four different mildly-acidic (pH 3.3-6.1) high-temperature environments (72-82 °C), and to identify metabolic pathways and/or protein-encoding genes that provide a detailed foundation of the potential functional role of these populations in situ. De novo assemblies of the highly similar Acidilobus-like populations (>99% nt 16S rRNA) represent near-complete consensus genomes based on an inventory of single-copy genes, deduced metabolic potential, and assembly statistics generated across sites. Functional analysis of coding sequence and confirmation of gene expression by Acidilobus-like populations provide evidence that they are primarily chemoorganoheterotrophs, generating acetyl-CoA via the degradation of carbohydrates, lipids, and proteins and auxotrophic with respect to several external vitamins, cofactors, and metabolites. No obvious pathways or protein-encoding genes responsible for the dissimilatory reduction of sulfur were identified.