Microbial consortia mediating the anaerobic oxidation of methane with sulfate are composed of methanotrophic Archaea (ANME) and Bacteria related to sulfate-reducing Deltaproteobacteria. Cultured representatives are not available for any of the three ANME clades. Therefore, a metagenomic approach was applied to assess the genetic potential of ANME-1 archaea. In total, 3.4 Mbp sequence information was generated based on metagenomic fosmid libraries constructed directly from a methanotrophic microbial mat in the Black Sea. These sequence data represent, in 30 contigs, about 82-90% of a composite ANME-1 genome. The dataset supports the hypothesis of a reversal of the methanogenesis pathway. Indications for an assimilatory, but not for a dissimilatory sulfate reduction pathway in ANME-1, were found. Draft genome and expression analyses are consistent with acetate and formate as putative electron shuttles. Moreover, the dataset points towards downstream electron-accepting redox components different from the ones known from methanogenic archaea. Whereas catalytic subunits of [NiFe]-hydrogenases are lacking in the dataset, genes for an [FeFe]-hydrogenase homologue were identified, not yet described to be present in methanogenic archaea. Clustered genes annotated as secreted multiheme c-type cytochromes were identified, which have not yet been correlated with methanogenesis-related steps. The genes were shown to be expressed, suggesting direct electron transfer as an additional possible mode to shuttle electrons from ANME-1 to the bacterial sulfate-reducing partner.

Ocean Sampling Day was initiated by the EU-funded Micro B3 (Marine Microbial Biodiversity, Bioinformatics, Biotechnology) project to obtain a snapshot of the marine microbial biodiversity and function of the world’s oceans. It is a simultaneous global mega-sequencing campaign aiming to generate the largest standardized microbial data set in a single day. This will be achievable only through the coordinated efforts of an Ocean Sampling Day Consortium, supportive partnerships and networks between sites. This commentary outlines the establishment, function and aims of the Consortium and describes our vision for a sustainable study of marine microbial communities and their embedded functional traits.

Planctomycetes are widely distributed in marine environments, where they supposedly play a role in carbon recycling. To deepen our understanding about the ecology of this sparsely studied phylum six planctomycete fosmids from two marine upwelling systems were investigated and compared with all available planctomycete genomic sequences including the as yet unpublished nearcomplete genomes of Blastopirellula marina DSM 3645 T and Planctomyces maris DSM 8797 T . High numbers of sulfatase genes (41-109) were found on all marine planctomycete genomes and on two fosmids (2). Furthermore, C1 metabolism genes otherwise only known from methanogenic Archaea and methylotrophic Proteobacteria were found on two fosmids and all planctomycete genomes, except for 'Candidatus Kuenenia stuttgartiensis'. Codon usage analysis indicated high expression levels for some of these genes. In addition, novel large families of planctomycete-specific paralogs with as yet unknown functions were identified, which are notably absent from the genome of 'Candidatus Kuenenia stuttgartiensis'. The high numbers of sulfatases in marine planctomycetes characterizes them as specialists for the initial breakdown of sulfatated heteropolysaccharides and indicate their importance for recycling carbon from these compounds. The almost ubiquitous presence of C1 metabolism genes among Planctomycetes together with codon usage analysis and information from the genomes suggest a general importance of these genes for Planctomycetes other than formaldehyde detoxification. The notable absence of these genes in Candidatus K. stuttgartiensis plus the surprising lack of almost any planctomycete-specific gene within this organism reveals an unexpected distinctiveness of anammox bacteria from all other Planctomycetes.

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