Metagenomic analysis of a permafrost microbial community reveals a rapid response to thaw

Rachel Mackelprang, Mark P. Waldrop, Kristen M. DeAngelis, Maude M. David, Krystle L. Chavarria, Steven J. Blazewicz, Edward M. Rubin and Janet K. Jansson ()
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Rachel Mackelprang: California State University at Northridge
Mark P. Waldrop: United States Geological Survey
Kristen M. DeAngelis: Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory
Maude M. David: Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory
Krystle L. Chavarria: Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory
Steven J. Blazewicz: Policy and Management, University of California at Berkeley
Edward M. Rubin: United States Department of Energy Joint Genome Institute
Janet K. Jansson: United States Department of Energy Joint Genome Institute

Nature, 2011, vol. 480, issue 7377, 368-371

Abstract: Permafrost microbes await the thaw Permafrost soil in the Arctic contains a huge reservoir of carbon. If the climate warms and the permafrost thaws, this carbon would become accessible to microbial degradation, releasing greenhouse gases in the process. The microbes responsible for this process are largely unknown. Metagenomic analysis of DNA isolated from two permafrost soils collected in Alaska reveals a rapid microbial response to thawing, with many functional gene abundances increasing. A draft genome of a novel methanogen was constructed from the sequence data. This study highlights the importance of rapid cycling of methane and nitrogen in thawing permafrost.

Date: 2011
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DOI: 10.1038/nature10576

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