The first genomic and proteomic characterization of a deep-sea sulfate reducer: insights into the piezophilic lifestyle of Desulfovibrio piezophilus

PLoS One. 2013;8(1):e55130. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0055130. Epub 2013 Jan 30.

Abstract

Desulfovibrio piezophilus strain C1TLV30(T) is a piezophilic anaerobe that was isolated from wood falls in the Mediterranean deep-sea. D. piezophilus represents a unique model for studying the adaptation of sulfate-reducing bacteria to hydrostatic pressure. Here, we report the 3.6 Mbp genome sequence of this piezophilic bacterium. An analysis of the genome revealed the presence of seven genomic islands as well as gene clusters that are most likely linked to life at a high hydrostatic pressure. Comparative genomics and differential proteomics identified the transport of solutes and amino acids as well as amino acid metabolism as major cellular processes for the adaptation of this bacterium to hydrostatic pressure. In addition, the proteome profiles showed that the abundance of key enzymes that are involved in sulfate reduction was dependent on hydrostatic pressure. A comparative analysis of orthologs from the non-piezophilic marine bacterium D. salexigens and D. piezophilus identified aspartic acid, glutamic acid, lysine, asparagine, serine and tyrosine as the amino acids preferentially replaced by arginine, histidine, alanine and threonine in the piezophilic strain. This work reveals the adaptation strategies developed by a sulfate reducer to a deep-sea lifestyle.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adaptation, Physiological / genetics
  • Amino Acids / metabolism
  • Atmospheric Pressure
  • Desulfovibrio / genetics
  • Desulfovibrio / metabolism
  • Desulfovibrio / physiology*
  • Energy Metabolism / genetics
  • Hydrostatic Pressure
  • Lipids / biosynthesis
  • Multigene Family / genetics
  • Oceans and Seas*
  • Oxidation-Reduction
  • Pressure*
  • Proteomics*
  • Species Specificity
  • Sulfates / metabolism*

Substances

  • Amino Acids
  • Lipids
  • Sulfates

Grants and funding

The work was supported by Institut de Recherche pour le Développement and National Centre for Scientific Research grants. The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.