Sulfur oxidation genes in diverse deep-sea viruses

Science. 2014 May 16;344(6185):757-60. doi: 10.1126/science.1252229. Epub 2014 May 1.

Abstract

Viruses are the most abundant biological entities in the oceans and a pervasive cause of mortality of microorganisms that drive biogeochemical cycles. Although the ecological and evolutionary effects of viruses on marine phototrophs are well recognized, little is known about their impact on ubiquitous marine lithotrophs. Here, we report 18 genome sequences of double-stranded DNA viruses that putatively infect widespread sulfur-oxidizing bacteria. Fifteen of these viral genomes contain auxiliary metabolic genes for the α and γ subunits of reverse dissimilatory sulfite reductase (rdsr). This enzyme oxidizes elemental sulfur, which is abundant in the hydrothermal plumes studied here. Our findings implicate viruses as a key agent in the sulfur cycle and as a reservoir of genetic diversity for bacterial enzymes that underpin chemosynthesis in the deep oceans.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Chemoautotrophic Growth
  • DNA Viruses / enzymology
  • DNA Viruses / genetics*
  • DNA, Viral / genetics
  • Genome, Viral / genetics
  • Hydrogensulfite Reductase / classification
  • Hydrogensulfite Reductase / genetics*
  • Hydrogensulfite Reductase / metabolism
  • Oceans and Seas
  • Oxidation-Reduction
  • Phylogeny
  • Protein Subunits / genetics
  • Protein Subunits / metabolism
  • Seawater / microbiology*
  • Seawater / virology
  • Sulfur / metabolism*
  • Sulfur-Reducing Bacteria / growth & development
  • Sulfur-Reducing Bacteria / metabolism
  • Sulfur-Reducing Bacteria / virology*
  • Viral Nonstructural Proteins / classification
  • Viral Nonstructural Proteins / genetics*
  • Viral Nonstructural Proteins / metabolism

Substances

  • DNA, Viral
  • Protein Subunits
  • Viral Nonstructural Proteins
  • Sulfur
  • Hydrogensulfite Reductase