Taxonomic distribution of metabolic functions underpins nutrient cycling inTrichodesmiumconsortia

Abstract

The photosynthetic and diazotrophic cyanobacteriumTrichodesmiumis a key contributor to marine biogeochemical cycles in the subtropical-oligotrophic oceans.Trichodesmiumforms colonies that harbor a distinct microbial community, which expands their functional potential and is predicted to influence the cycling of carbon, nitrogen, phosphorus and iron (C, N, P, and Fe). To link key traits to taxa and elucidate how community structure influences nutrient cycling, we assessed Red SeaTrichodesmiumcolonies using metagenomics and metaproteomics. This diverse consortium comprises bacteria that typically associate with algae and particles, such as the ubiquitousAlteromonas macleodii, but also lineages specific toTrichodesmium, such as members from the order Balneolales. These bacteria carry functional traits that would influence resource cycling in the consortium, including siderophore biosynthesis, reduced phosphorus metabolism, vitamins, denitrification and dissimilatory-nitrate-reduction-to-ammonium (DNRA) pathways. Denitrification and DNRA appeared to be modular as bacteria collectively completed the steps for these pathways. The vast majority of associated bacteria were auxotrophic for vitamins, indicating the interdependency of consortium members.Trichodesmiumin turn may rely on associated bacteria to meet its high Fe demand as several lineages can synthesize the photolabile siderophores vibrioferrin, rhizoferrin, and petrobactin, enhancing the bioavailability of particulate-Fe to the entire consortium. Our results highlight thatTrichodesmiumis a hotspot for C, N, P, Fe, and vitamin exchange. The functional redundancy of nutrient cycling in the consortium likely underpins its resilience within an ever-changing global environment.