Abstract
The discovery of bacterium-bivalve symbioses capable of utilizing methane as a carbon and energy source indicates that the endosymbionts of hydrothermal vent and cold seep bivalves are not restricted to sulfur-oxidizing chemoautotrophic bacteria but also include methanotrophic bacteria. The phylogenetic origin of methanotrophic endosymbionts and their relationship to known symbiotic and free-living bacteria, however, have remained unexplored. In situ localization and phylogenetic analysis of a symbiont 16S rRNA gene cloned from the gills of a recently described deep-sea mussel species demonstrate that this symbiont represents a new taxon which is closely related to free-living, cultivable Type I methanotrophic bacteria. This symbiont is distinct from known chemoautotrophic symbionts. Thus, despite compelling similarities between the symbioses, chemoautotrophic and methanotrophic symbionts of marine bivalves have independent phylogenetic origins.
Publication types
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Comparative Study
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Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.
MeSH terms
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Animals
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Bacteria / classification*
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Bacteria / genetics
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Base Sequence
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Biological Evolution
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Bivalvia / microbiology*
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Bivalvia / ultrastructure
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DNA, Ribosomal / genetics
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Gills / microbiology
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Gills / ultrastructure
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In Situ Hybridization
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Methylococcaceae / classification*
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Methylococcaceae / genetics
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Methylococcaceae / isolation & purification
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Methylococcaceae / ultrastructure
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Molecular Sequence Data
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Phylogeny
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RNA, Ribosomal, 16S / genetics
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Symbiosis*
Substances
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DNA, Ribosomal
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RNA, Ribosomal, 16S
Associated data
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GENBANK/L01478
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GENBANK/L01479
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GENBANK/L01575
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GENBANK/L01576
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GENBANK/L25709
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GENBANK/L25713
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GENBANK/L25714
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GENBANK/M29021
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GENBANK/M29022
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GENBANK/M90415
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GENBANK/M90662
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GENBANK/M95651
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GENBANK/M95656
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GENBANK/M95657
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GENBANK/M95658
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GENBANK/M95659
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GENBANK/M95662
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GENBANK/M95665
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GENBANK/M96398
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GENBANK/M99445
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GENBANK/M99446
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GENBANK/M99448
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GENBANK/M99451
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GENBANK/U05570
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GENBANK/U05595