Chemical composition and Pb(II)binding of dissolved organic matter in a hypersaline lake in China

Dissolved organic matter(DOM)plays a vital role in promoting carbon and nutrient cycling.It is a food source for organisms and controls the migration and transformation of trace metals and other contaminants in aquatic systems.The contributions of aquatic DOM to the environment and ecology of a system are closely related to its abundance and chemical structure.In this study,the chemical composition and binding properties of DOM in a hypersaline lake watershed were investigated for the fi rst time using dissolved organic carbon(DOC)analysis,absorption spectroscopy,Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy,pyrolysis-GC-MS(Py-GC-MS),and fl uorescence parallel factor(PARAFAC)analysis combined with Pb(II)titration techniques.The results showed that DOM from the tributaries that fl owed into the lake had a lower DOC content,higher molecular weight,and higher specifi c UV absorbance than the DOM in lake water.Protein-like fl uorophores were mainly found in tributary and lake surface water DOM(LSDOM)and humic-like substances were abundant in lake groundwater DOM(LGDOM).Using this multi-methodological approach,we found that the DOM from the hypersaline lake watershed was mainly from microbial origins,and consisted of aromatics,carbohydrates,and aliphatics.The results from quantitative analysis showed that DOM from the infl owing tributaries contained more aromatics,lower carbohydrates,and lower aliphatics than DOM in the lake.Monocyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and carbohydrates were more abundant in LSDOM than LGDOM.The results from the Pb(II)titration technique coupled with PARAFAC analysis suggested that PARAFAC-derived components had relatively low condition stability constants(log K_(M)<2).Of the two types of lake DOM,the LGDOM had a higher Pb(II)binding potential than the LSDOM.From this study we have improved our understanding of how DOM within a hypersaline lake watershed varies in its composition and potential to bind with metals.

Preliminary Characterization of a Cellulase Producing Bacterial Strain Isolated from a Romanian Hypersaline Lake

Cellulases are a group of enzymes that are used in many biotechnological processes. Since most of the enzymes synthesised by mesophilic microorganisms are unstable in industrial environments, it is necessary to direct research towards extremophile cellulolytic microorganisms because the enzymes synthesised by them are stable and active even in harsh physicochemical conditions. In the present investigation, our aim was to isolate and identify some microbial cellulolytic strains from a hypersaline lake located in Romania and to determine their optimal growth conditions. Of a total of 25 microbial strains isolated, only one extreme halotolerant bacterial strain was able to produce an endoglucanase. Based on molecular identification, we identified this cellulolytic strain as a species of Bacillus genus, most closely related to Bacillus zhangzhouensis. Optimal growth conditions were found to be at 15&deg;C, pH 7.5 and 2 M NaCl. Endoglucanase activity of this bacterial strain is influenced by both salinity and temperature. The most significant endoglucanase activity was detected in the presence of 3 M NaCl, after 72 h of incubation at 15&deg;C. In this situation, the amount of glucose released from a volume of 0.5 mL of 2% (w/v) carboxymethyl cellulose substrate is equivalent to 2.05 mg. In conclusion, this study represents the first preliminary characterization of a B. zhangzhouensis strain that has the ability to degrade cellulose and that demonstrates tolerance to high salt concentrations.

Unravelling biosynthesis and biodegradation potentials of microbial dark matters in hypersaline lakes

Biosynthesis and biodegradation of microorganisms critically underpin the development of biotechnology,new drugs and therapies,and environmental remediation.However,most uncultured microbial species along with their metabolic capacities in extreme environments,remain obscured.Here we unravel the metabolic potential of microbial dark matters(MDMs)in four deep-inland hypersaline lakes in Xinjiang,China.Utilizing metagenomic binning,we uncovered a rich diversity of 3030 metagenomeassembled genomes(MAGs)across 82 phyla,revealing a substantial portion,2363 MAGs,as previously unclassified at the genus level.These unknown MAGs displayed unique distribution patterns across different lakes,indicating a strong correlation with varied physicochemical conditions.Our analysis revealed an extensive array of 9635 biosynthesis gene clusters(BGCs),with a remarkable 9403 being novel,suggesting untapped biotechnological potential.Notably,some MAGs from potentially new phyla exhibited a high density of these BGCs.Beyond biosynthesis,our study also identified novel biodegradation pathways,including dehalogenation,anaerobic ammonium oxidation(Anammox),and degradation of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons(PAHs)and plastics,in previously unknown microbial clades.These findings significantly enrich our understanding of biosynthesis and biodegradation processes and open new avenues for biotechnological innovation,emphasizing the untapped potential of microbial diversity in hypersaline environments.

A Fresh Look at the Geobiology & Sedimentary Environments of the Hypersaline Great Salt Lake,USA

1 Introduction The Great Salt Lake(GSL)is the defining hydrological feature of the Great Basin,North America’s largest desert--and it is the largest waterbody in the western USA.Despite the early(Eardley,1938)recognition of"bioherms,"algal layers,and mats covering hundreds of square km of lake area,these features have not been the