Ecophysiology of freshwater Verrucomicrobia inferred from metagenome-assembled genomes

Abstract

ABSTRACT Microbes are critical in carbon and nutrient cycling in freshwater ecosystems. Members of the Verrucomicrobia are ubiquitous in such systems, yet their roles and ecophysiology are not well understood. In this study, we recovered 19 Verrucomicrobia draft genomes by sequencing 184 time-series metagenomes from a eutrophic lake and a humic bog that differ in carbon source and nutrient availabilities. These genomes span four of the seven previously defined Verrucomicrobia subdivisions, and greatly expand the known genomic diversity of freshwater Verrucomicrobia. Genome analysis revealed their potential role as (poly)saccharide-degraders in freshwater, uncovered interesting genomic features for this life style, and suggested their adaptation to nutrient availabilities in their environments. Between the two lakes, Verrucomicrobia populations differ significantly in glycoside hydrolase gene abundance and functional profiles, reflecting the autochthonous and terrestrially-derived allochthonous carbon sources of the two ecosystems respectively. Interestingly, a number of genomes recovered from the bog contained gene clusters that potentially encode a novel porin-multiheme cytochrome c complex and might be involved in extracellular electron transfer in the anoxic humic-rich environment. Notably, most epilimnion genomes have large numbers of so-called “Planctomycete-specific” cytochrome c -containing genes, which exhibited nearly opposite distribution patterns with glycoside hydrolase genes, probably associated with the different environmental oxygen availability and carbohydrate complexity between lakes/layers. Overall, the recovered genomes are a major step towards understanding the role, ecophysiology and distribution of Verrucomicrobia in freshwater. IMPORTANCE Freshwater Verrucomicrobia are cosmopolitan in lakes and rivers, yet their roles and ecophysiology are not well understood, as cultured freshwater Verrucomicrobia are restricted to one subdivision of this phylum. Here, we greatly expand the known genomic diversity of this freshwater lineage by recovering 19 Verrucomicrobia draft genomes from 184 metagenomes collected from a eutrophic lake and a humic bog across multiple years. Most of these genomes represent first freshwater representatives of several Verrucomicrobia subdivisions. Genomic analysis revealed Verrucomicrobia as potential (poly)saccharide-degraders, and suggested their adaptation to carbon source of different origins in the two contrasting ecosystems. We identified putative extracellular electron transfer genes and so-called “Planctomycete-specific” cytochrome c -containing genes, and found their distinct distribution patterns between the lakes/layers. Overall, our analysis greatly advances the understanding of the function, ecophysiology and distribution of freshwater Verrucomicrobia, while highlighting their potential role in freshwater carbon cycling.