Diversity and ecological function of urease-producing bacteria in the cultivation environment ofGracilariopsis lemaneiformis

Abstract

Urease-producing bacteria (UPB) provide inorganic nitrogen for primary producers by hydrolysis of urea. They play an important role in marine nitrogen cycle. However, there is still incomplete understanding of UPB and their ecological functions in the cultivation environment of red macroalageGracilariopsis lemaneiformis. This study comprehensively analyzed the diversity of culturable UPB and explored their effects on urea uptake byG. lemaneiformis. Total 34 isolates belonging to four main bacterial phyla i.e. Proteobacteria, Bacteroidetes, Firmicutes, and Actinobacteria were identified through 16S rRNA sequencing and were screened for UPB by urea agar chromogenic medium assay andureCgene cloning. Our data revealed that only 8 strains were found containing urease. These all UPB exhibited different urease activities by Berthelot reaction colorimetry assay. Furthermore, UPB with highest urease activity was selected to use as co-culture withG. lemaneiformisto explore its role in terms of promotion or inhibition of nitrogen uptake byG. lemaneiformis. The results showed that the urea consumption in culture media and the total cellular nitrogen inG. lemaneiformisfound increased significantly in the UPB-co culture group than control i.e. in the sterile group (p< 0.05). Similarity, isotopic assay revealed that δ15N contents ofG. lemaneiformiswas significant higher in the UPB-co culture than in the control where δ15N-urea was the only nitrogen source in the culture media, indicating the UPB helpedG. lemaneiformisto absorb more nitrogen from urea. Moreover, the highest content of δ15N was found inG. lemaneiformiswith epiphytic bacteria, as compared to sterilized (control) showing that epiphytic bacteria along with UPB have compound effects in helpingG. lemaneiformisabsorb more nitrogen in urea. Taken together, these results provide unique insight into the ecological role of UPB and suggest that urease from macroalgae environment-associated bacteria might be important player in the marine nitrogen cycling.