Lignin Unlocks Stealth Carbon Sinks in Cold Seeps via Microbial Enzymatic Gatekeeping.

IF 10.7 1区 综合性期刊 Q1 Multidisciplinary
Research Pub Date : 2025-08-25 eCollection Date: 2025-01-01 DOI:10.34133/research.0848
Jialing Li, Jingchun Feng, Pandeng Wang, Mengzhuo Zhu, Yongji Huang, Ying Wu, Junning Fan, Junlin Hu, Xiyang Dong, Yingli Zhou, Xuanyu Tao, Si Zhang
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引用次数: 0

Abstract

Cold seep ecosystems serve as critical hubs in marine carbon cycling through methane emissions and organic matter processing. While terrestrial lignin constitutes a major fraction of persistent organic carbon in cold seep sediments, its microbial transformation pathways in deep-sea cold seep environments remain unexplored. Here, we present the first comprehensive analysis of lignin distribution across sediment horizons at the Haima cold seep, coupled with a multi-omics investigation of microbial lignin metabolism. Laboratory enrichment of sediment communities employing lignin as the exclusive carbon substrate revealed substantial microbial community restructuring dominated by Burkholderiales, Pseudomonadales, and Rhizobiales lineages. Integrated omics resolved 2-tiered metabolic cascades: (a) enzymatic depolymerization via dyP-type peroxidases and LigEFG-mediated β-aryl ether cleavage, targeting syringyl and diarylpropane subunits; (b) funneling of aromatic intermediates through 4,5-/3,4-PDOG (protocatechuate dioxygenase) pathways into central carbon metabolism. Although direct methanogenesis was undetected, methylotrophic potential was evidenced through methane cycle gene expression patterns by lignin decomposers. Phylogenetic surveys further demonstrated the global prevalence of lignin decomposers across 12 major cold seep systems. These decomposers showed marked divergence in enzymatic repertoires compared to degraders from other ecosystems. Our findings establish 3 paradigm shifts: (a) The turnover rates of terrestrial organic carbon are likely underestimated in deep-sea ecosystems; (b) microbial consortia employ combinatorial enzymatic strategies distinct from terrestrial decomposition regimes; (c) methyl shunting from lignin breakdown primes methanogenic precursors, revealing cryptic linkages between refractory carbon cycling and greenhouse gas reservoirs.

木质素解锁隐形碳汇在冷渗漏通过微生物酶的把关。
冷渗生态系统通过甲烷排放和有机物处理,在海洋碳循环中发挥着关键的枢纽作用。虽然陆生木质素是冷渗沉积物中持久性有机碳的主要组成部分,但其在深海冷渗环境中的微生物转化途径仍未被探索。在这里,我们首次全面分析了海马冷渗沉积物层中木质素的分布,并对微生物木质素代谢进行了多组学研究。在实验室中,对以木质素为唯一碳底物的沉积物群落进行富集,揭示了以burkholderales、Pseudomonadales和Rhizobiales谱系为主的大量微生物群落重组。整合组学解决了2层代谢级联反应:(a)通过dyp型过氧化物酶和ligefg介导的β-芳基醚裂解进行酶解聚合,靶向丁香基和二芳基丙烷亚基;(b)芳香中间体通过4,5-/3,4- pdog(原儿茶酸双加氧酶)途径进入中心碳代谢。虽然没有检测到直接的甲烷生成,但木质素分解者的甲烷循环基因表达模式证明了甲基营养潜力。系统发育调查进一步证明了木质素分解者在12个主要冷渗系统中的全球普遍性。与其他生态系统中的降解者相比,这些分解者在酶解方面表现出明显的差异。我们的发现建立了3个范式转变:(a)深海生态系统中陆地有机碳的周转率可能被低估;(b)微生物联合体采用不同于陆地分解制度的组合酶策略;(c)木质素分解产生的甲基分流启动了产甲烷前体,揭示了难降解碳循环与温室气体储层之间的神秘联系。
本文章由计算机程序翻译,如有差异,请以英文原文为准。
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来源期刊
Research
Research Multidisciplinary-Multidisciplinary
CiteScore
13.40
自引率
3.60%
发文量
0
审稿时长
14 weeks
期刊介绍: Research serves as a global platform for academic exchange, collaboration, and technological advancements. This journal welcomes high-quality research contributions from any domain, with open arms to authors from around the globe. Comprising fundamental research in the life and physical sciences, Research also highlights significant findings and issues in engineering and applied science. The journal proudly features original research articles, reviews, perspectives, and editorials, fostering a diverse and dynamic scholarly environment.
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