These newly discovered cells are breathed in two ways
Members of the team set a process to gradually determine what elements and molecules that bacterial pressure could grow. They already knew that they could use oxygen, so they tested other compounds in the laboratory. When there is no oxygen, RSW1 can process hydrogen gas and sulfur elements – it can be separated from a volcanic valve and hydrogen sulfide as a product. However, while the cells were technically alive, they did not grow or reproduce. They created little energy – just enough to survive, something more. “This cell was only sitting there and rotating its wheels without gaining any metabolic or biomass increased,” said Boyd.
He then added the oxygen team to the squad again. As expected, the bacteria grew faster. But, surprisingly, the researchers, the RSW1 also still produces hydrogen sulfide gas, as if it breathes anaerobic. In fact, it seemed that bacteria breathe at anaerobic and anaerobic at the same time and use the energy of both processes. This double breathing went beyond the previous reports: the cell did not produce only in the presence of oxygen sulfide but at the same time performing both contradictory processes. Bacteria should not be able to do so.
“Well, is it really going on here,” Boyd said. “
Breathing two ways
The RSW1 appears to have a composite metabolism and runs an anaerobic -based state -based mode with aerobic oxygen.
“It is very unique for one organism to eliminate both metabolism,” said Rajanani Moraly, an environmental microbiologist at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, who was not involved in the study. He said that when anaerobic organisms are exposed to oxygen, the affected molecules cause stress as active oxygen compounds. “It is really interesting for not happening.”
Along the road to the western heat spring (left) in the Yelston National Park, the researchers separated an unusual germ from gray -gray biofilm (right).Photo: Eric Boyd; Quanta Magazine
Boyd’s team observed that bacteria grow simultaneously when running both metabolism. This may be an advantage in its unique environment: oxygen is not distributed evenly in hot springs such as RSW1. In constantly changing conditions, where you can drown for an oxygen for a moment, just to protect it, protect one’s metabolic bets may be a very consistent feature.
Other germs have been observed that two methods breathe simultaneously: anaerobic with nitrate and aerobic with oxygen. But these processes use completely different chemical paths, and when they are paired, they tend to provide the germs to the germs. In contrast, the combined metabolism of sulfur/oxygen RSW1 reinforces the cells instead of pulling them down.
This type of dual breathing may have so far escaped from diagnosis because it was considered impossible. “You really have no reason to search for it,” Boyd said. In addition, oxygen and sulfide respond quickly. “Unless you are looking for sulfide as a by -product, you may lose it completely,” he said.
In fact, germs with dual metabolism may be widespread. He pointed to many of the habitats and organisms that exist on the slopes of stress between oxygen -rich areas and without oxygen. A sample is immersed in sediments that can accommodate cable bacteria. These long germs tend to have one end of their body to use aerobic breathing in oxygen water, while the other end is buried in the depth of oxygen deposits and uses anaerobic breathing. Cable bacteria flourish in their uncertain division by separating their aerobic and anaerobic processes. But it seems that RSW1 performs a few tasks while rotating in the fountain.
It is still unclear how RSW1 bacteria are capable of protecting their anaerobic machines against oxygen. Moralyi speculated that cells may create chemical superpowers within them that can surround oxygen, isolate and “separate”.
RSW1 and any other microbial that have dual metabolism create attractive models for how microbial lives evolve during the big oxygenation event. “This should be a completely chaotic time for germs on Earth,” he said. As a slow drop of oxygen filtered in the atmosphere and the sea, any kind of life that can tolerate a casual brush with new and poisoned gas-or even use it for its energetic benefit-may take advantage of this advantage. At that time the transfer may be better than one metabolism.
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