Phylometagenomics of cycad coralloid roots reveals shared symbiotic signals

Research output: Contribution to journalResearch articleContributedpeer-review

Contributors

  • Edder D. Bustos-Diaz - , Center for Research and Advanced Studies of the National Polytechnic Institute, Leiden University (Author)
  • Arely Cruz-Perez - , Center for Research and Advanced Studies of the National Polytechnic Institute (Author)
  • Diego Garfias-Gallegos - , Center for Research and Advanced Studies of the National Polytechnic Institute (Author)
  • Paul M. D'agostino - , Chair of Technical Biochemistry, TUD Dresden University of Technology (Author)
  • Michelle M. Gehringer - , University of Kaiserslautern-Landau (Author)
  • Angelica Cibrian-Jaramillo - , Center for Research and Advanced Studies of the National Polytechnic Institute, Naturalis Biodiversity Center (Author)
  • Francisco Barona-Gomez - , Center for Research and Advanced Studies of the National Polytechnic Institute, Leiden University (Author)

Abstract

Cycads are known to host symbiotic cyanobacteria, including Nostocales species, as well as other sympatric bacterial taxa within their specialized coralloid roots. Yet, it is unknown if these bacteria share a phylogenetic origin and/or common genomic functions that allow them to engage in facultative symbiosis with cycad roots. To address this, we obtained metagenomic sequences from 39 coralloid roots sampled from diverse cycad species and origins in Australia and Mexico. Culture-independent shotgun metagenomic sequencing was used to validate sub-community co-cultures as an efficient approach for functional and taxonomic analysis. Our metanalysis shows a host-independent microbiome core consisting of seven bacterial orders with high species diversity within the identified taxa. Moreover, we recovered 43 cyanobacterial metagenome-assembled genomes, and in addition to Nostoc spp., symbiotic cyanobacteria of the genus Aulosira were identified for the first time. Using this robust dataset, we used phylometagenomic analysis to reveal three monophyletic cyanobiont clades, two host-generalist and one cycad-specific that includes Aulosira spp. Although the symbiotic clades have independently arisen, they are enriched in certain functional genes, such as those related to secondary metabolism. Furthermore, the taxonomic composition of associated sympatric bacterial taxa remained constant. Our research quadruples the number of cycad cyanobiont genomes and provides a robust framework to decipher cyanobacterial symbioses, with the potential of improving our understanding of symbiotic communities. This study lays a solid foundation to harness cyanobionts for agriculture and bioprospection, and assist in conservation of critically endangered cycads.

Details

Original languageEnglish
Article number001207
JournalMicrobial Genomics
Volume10
Issue number3
Publication statusPublished - Mar 2024
Peer-reviewedYes

External IDs

PubMed 38451250

Keywords

Keywords

  • Aulosira, cyanobiont, cycad coralloid roots, Nostocales, phylometagenomics, symbiosis