Characterization of the structure of the prokaryotic complex of Antarctic permafrost by molecular genetic techniques


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Abstract

A prokaryotic mesophilic organotrophic community responsible for 10% of the total microbial number determined by epifluorescence microscopy was reactivated in the samples of Antarctic permafrost retrieved from the environment favoring long-term preservation of microbial communities (7500 years). No culturable forms were obtained without resuscitation procedures (CFU = 0). Proteobacteria, Actinobacteria, and Firmicutes were the dominant microbial groups in the complex. Initiation of the reactivated microbial complex by addition of chitin (0.1% wt/vol) resulted in an increased share of metabolically active biomass (up to 50%) due to the functional domination of chitinolytics caused by the target resource. Thus, sequential application of resuscitation procedures and initiation of a specific physiological group (in this case, chitinolytics) to a permafrost-preserved microbial community made it possible to reveal a prokaryotic complex capable of reversion of metabolic activity (FISH data), to determine its phylogenetic structure by metagenomic analysis, and to isolate a pure culture of the dominant microorganism with high chitinolytic activity.

About the authors

N. A. Manucharova

Department of Soil Biology, Faculty of Soil Science

Author for correspondence.
Email: manucharova@mail.ru
Russian Federation, Moscow

E. V. Trosheva

Department of Soil Biology, Faculty of Soil Science

Email: manucharova@mail.ru
Russian Federation, Moscow

E. M. Kol’tsova

Department of Soil Biology, Faculty of Soil Science

Email: manucharova@mail.ru
Russian Federation, Moscow

E. V. Demkina

Winogradsky Institute of Microbiology, Research Center of Biotechnology

Email: manucharova@mail.ru
Russian Federation, Moscow

E. V. Karaevskaya

Institute of Physicochemical and Biological Problems of Soil Science

Email: manucharova@mail.ru
Russian Federation, Moscow

E. M. Rivkina

Institute of Physicochemical and Biological Problems of Soil Science

Email: manucharova@mail.ru
Russian Federation, Moscow

A. V. Mardanov

Institute of Bioengineering, Research Center of Biotechnology

Email: manucharova@mail.ru
Russian Federation, Moscow

G. I. El’-Registan

Winogradsky Institute of Microbiology, Research Center of Biotechnology

Email: manucharova@mail.ru
Russian Federation, Moscow

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