Genomic adaptations of novel halotolerant bacteria from extreme North Greenland

作者：Miguel Ángel Salinas-García, Anders Priemé · 发表于：bioRxiv (Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory) · 年份：2025 · DOI：10.1101/2025.06.13.657406 · 被引用次数：5 · 研究领域：Microbial Community Ecology and Physiology、Polar Research and Ecology、Methane Hydrates and Related Phenomena

ABSTRACT Peary Land, northern-most Greenland, is a cold desert region whose soil microbiome remains underexplored. This is the first study to explore the halotolerant soil microbiome of this region with culture-dependent methods. Forty-nine taxonomically diverse bacterial isolates were obtained from dry biological soil crust, surface soil and permafrost soil. Nine isolates were selected for whole genome sequencing; these genomes showed adaptations to their cold, saline native environment, such as cold shock proteins and a large number of osmoprotectant transporters. The genomes also contained several biosynthetic gene clusters, including a large variety of clusters involved in the production of antimicrobial compounds. Furthermore, most of the sequenced genomes showed low digital DNA-DNA hybridisation to their closest relatives, suggesting that they represent novel species. Overall, this study demonstrates the unexplored potential of High Arctic deserts as a source of novel halotolerant bacteria and their secondary metabolites.