Deep-Sea Archaea Fix and Share Nitrogen in Methane-Consuming Microbial Consortia Export

@article{citeulike:5949022, abstract = {Nitrogen-fixing (diazotrophic) microorganisms regulate productivity in diverse ecosystems; however, the identities of diazotrophs are unknown in many oceanic environments. Using single-cell-resolution nanometer secondary ion mass spectrometry images of 15N incorporation, we showed that deep-sea anaerobic methane-oxidizing archaea fix N2, as well as structurally similar CN-, and share the products with sulfate-reducing bacterial symbionts. These archaeal/bacterial consortia are already recognized as the major sink of methane in benthic ecosystems, and we now identify them as a source of bioavailable nitrogen as well. The archaea maintain their methane oxidation rates while fixing N2 but reduce their growth, probably in compensation for the energetic burden of diazotrophy. This finding extends the demonstrated lower limits of respiratory energy capable of fueling N2 fixation and reveals a link between the global carbon, nitrogen, and sulfur cycles. 10.1126/science.1178223}, author = {Dekas, Anne E. and Poretsky, Rachel S. and Orphan, Victoria J.}, citeulike-article-id = {5949022}, citeulike-linkout-0 = {http://dx.doi.org/10.1126/science.1178223}, citeulike-linkout-1 = {http://www.sciencemag.org/content/326/5951/422.abstract}, citeulike-linkout-2 = {http://www.sciencemag.org/content/326/5951/422.full.pdf}, citeulike-linkout-3 = {http://view.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19833965}, citeulike-linkout-4 = {http://www.hubmed.org/display.cgi?uids=19833965}, day = {16}, doi = {10.1126/science.1178223}, journal = {Science}, keywords = {community, environment, microbes}, month = {October}, number = {5951}, pages = {422--426}, posted-at = {2009-10-16 06:27:37}, priority = {2}, title = {Deep-Sea Archaea Fix and Share Nitrogen in Methane-Consuming Microbial Consortia}, url = {http://dx.doi.org/10.1126/science.1178223}, volume = {326}, year = {2009} }

TY - JOUR ID - citeulike:5949022 L3 - citeulike-article-id:5949022 N2 - Nitrogen-fixing (diazotrophic) microorganisms regulate productivity in diverse ecosystems; however, the identities of diazotrophs are unknown in many oceanic environments. Using single-cell-resolution nanometer secondary ion mass spectrometry images of 15N incorporation, we showed that deep-sea anaerobic methane-oxidizing archaea fix N2, as well as structurally similar CN-, and share the products with sulfate-reducing bacterial symbionts. These archaeal/bacterial consortia are already recognized as the major sink of methane in benthic ecosystems, and we now identify them as a source of bioavailable nitrogen as well. The archaea maintain their methane oxidation rates while fixing N2 but reduce their growth, probably in compensation for the energetic burden of diazotrophy. This finding extends the demonstrated lower limits of respiratory energy capable of fueling N2 fixation and reveals a link between the global carbon, nitrogen, and sulfur cycles. 10.1126/science.1178223 IS - 5951 JF - Science EP - 426 TI - Deep-Sea Archaea Fix and Share Nitrogen in Methane-Consuming Microbial Consortia VL - 326 SP - 422 KW - community KW - environment KW - microbes AU - Dekas, Anne AU - Poretsky, Rachel AU - Orphan, Victoria PY - 2009/10/16/ UR - http://dx.doi.org/10.1126/science.1178223 ER -