Éditeur(s) : Wiley / Blackwell
Résumé : P>The distribution of the archaeal communities in deep subseafloor sediments [0-36 m below the seafloor (mbsf)] from the New Caledonia and Fairway Basins was investigated using DNA- and RNA-derived 16S rRNA clone libraries, functional genes and denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE). A new method, Co-Migration DGGE (CM-DGGE), was developed to access selectively the active archaeal diversity. Prokaryotic cell abundances at the open-ocean sites were on average similar to 3.5 times lower than at a site under terrestrial influence. The sediment surface archaeal community (0-1.5 mbsf) was characterized by active Marine Group 1 (MG-1) Archaea that co-occurred with ammonia monooxygenase gene (amoA) sequences affiliated to a group of uncultured sedimentary Crenarchaeota. However, the anoxic subsurface methane-poor sediments (below 1.5 mbsf) were dominated by less active archaeal communities, such as the Thermoplasmatales, Marine Benthic Group D and other lineages probably involved in the methane cycle (Methanosarcinales, ANME-2 and DSAG/MBG-B). Moreover, the archaeal diversity of some sediment layers was restricted to only one lineage (Uncultured Euryarchaeota, DHVE6, MBG-B, MG-1 and SAGMEG). Sequences forming two clusters within the Thermococcales order were also present in these cold subseafloor sediments, suggesting that these uncultured putative thermophilic archaeal communities might have originated from a different environment. This study shows a transition between surface and subsurface sediment archaeal communities.
Environmental Microbiology (1462-2912) (Wiley / Blackwell), 2009-09 , Vol. 11 , N. 9 , P. 2446-2462

Droits : 2009 Society for Applied Microbiology and Wiley - Blackwell Publishing Ltd.
http://archimer.ifremer.fr/doc/2009/publication-6801.pdf
DOI:10.1111/j.1462-2920.2009.01976.x
http://archimer.ifremer.fr/doc/00000/6801/

Éditeur(s) : Nature
Résumé : Mud volcanism is an important natural source of the greenhouse gas methane to the hydrosphere and atmosphere(1,2). Recent investigations show that the number of active submarine mud volcanoes might be much higher than anticipated ( for example, see refs 3 - 5), and that gas emitted from deep-sea seeps might reach the upper mixed ocean(6-8). Unfortunately, global methane emission from active submarine mud volcanoes cannot be quantified because their number and gas release are unknown(9). It is also unclear how efficiently methane-oxidizing microorganisms remove methane. Here we investigate the methane-emitting Haakon Mosby Mud Volcano (HMMV, Barents Sea, 72 degrees N, 14 degrees 44' E; 1,250 m water depth) to provide quantitative estimates of the in situ composition, distribution and activity of methanotrophs in relation to gas emission. The HMMV hosts three key communities: aerobic methanotrophic bacteria (Methylococcales), anaerobic methanotrophic archaea (ANME-2) thriving below siboglinid tubeworms, and a previously undescribed clade of archaea (ANME-3) associated with bacterial mats. We found that the upward flow of sulphate- and oxygen-free mud volcano fluids restricts the availability of these electron acceptors for methane oxidation, and hence the habitat range of methanotrophs. This mechanism limits the capacity of the microbial methane filter at active marine mud volcanoes to <40% of the total flux.
Nature (depuis 1997) (0028-0836) (Nature), 2006-10 , Vol. 443 , N. 7113 , P. 854-858

Droits : 2006 Nature Publishing Group
http://archimer.ifremer.fr/doc/2006/publication-4514.pdf
DOI:10.1038/nature05227
http://archimer.ifremer.fr/doc/00000/4514/

Éditeur(s) : Public Library Science
Résumé : Subsurface sediments of the Sonora Margin (Guaymas Basin), located in proximity of active cold seep sites were explored. The taxonomic and functional diversity of bacterial and archaeal communities were investigated from 1 to 10 meters below the seafloor. Microbial community structure and abundance and distribution of dominant populations were assessed using complementary molecular approaches (Ribosomal Intergenic Spacer Analysis, 16S rRNA libraries and quantitative PCR with an extensive primers set) and correlated to comprehensive geochemical data. Moreover the metabolic potentials and functional traits of the microbial community were also identified using the GeoChip functional gene microarray and metabolic rates. The active microbial community structure in the Sonora Margin sediments was related to deep subsurface ecosystems (Marine Benthic Groups B and D, Miscellaneous Crenarchaeotal Group, Chloroflexi and Candidate divisions) and remained relatively similar throughout the sediment section, despite defined biogeochemical gradients. However, relative abundances of bacterial and archaeal dominant lineages were significantly correlated with organic carbon quantity and origin. Consistently, metabolic pathways for the degradation and assimilation of this organic carbon as well as genetic potentials for the transformation of detrital organic matters, hydrocarbons and recalcitrant substrates were detected, suggesting that chemoorganotrophic microorganisms may dominate the microbial community of the Sonora Margin subsurface sediments.
Plos One (1932-6203) (Public Library Science), 2014-08 , Vol. 9 , N. 8 , P. e104427

Droits : This is an open-access article, free of all copyright, and may be freely reproduced, distributed, transmitted, modified, built upon, or otherwise used by anyone for any lawful purpose. The work is made available under the Creative Commons CC0 public domain dedication.
http://archimer.ifremer.fr/doc/00203/31408/29801.pdf
DOI:10.1371/journal.pone.0104427
http://archimer.ifremer.fr/doc/00203/31408/

Éditeur(s) : HAL CCSD Wiley-Blackwell
Résumé : International audience
Archaea may be involved in global energy cycles, and are known for their ability to interact with eukaryotic species (sponges, corals and ascidians) or as archaeal-bacterial consortia. The recently proposed phylum Thaumarchaeota may represent the deepest branching lineage in the archaeal phylogeny emerging before the divergence between Euryarchaeota and Crenarchaeota. Here we report the first characterization of two marine thaumarchaeal species from shallow waters that consist of multiple giant cells. One species is coated with sulfur-oxidizing g-Proteobacteria. These new uncultured thaumarchaeal species are able to live in the sulfide-rich environments of a tropical mangrove swamp, either on living tissues such as roots or on various kinds of materials such as stones, sunken woods, etc. These archaea and archaea/bacteria associations have been studied using light microscopy, transmission electron microscopy and scanning electron microscopy. Species identification of archaeons and the putative bacterial symbiont have been assessed by 16S small subunit ribosomal RNA analysis. The sulfur-oxidizing ability of the bacteria has been assessed by genetic investigation on alpha-subunit of the adenosine-5_- phosphosulfate reductase/oxidase's (AprA). Species identifications have been confirmed by fluorescence in situ hybridization using specific probes designed in this study. In this article, we describe two new giant archaeal species that form the biggest archaeal filaments ever observed. One of these species is covered by a specific biofilm of sulfur-oxidizing g-Proteobacteria. This study highlights an unexpected morphological and genetic diversity of the phylum Thaumarchaeota.
ISSN: 1462-2912

hal-00715219
https://hal.univ-antilles.fr/hal-00715219
DOI : 10.1111/j.1462-2920.2010.02309.x

Éditeur(s) : HAL CCSD
Résumé : Evolution of organisms, genomes and genes does not strictly follow a tree-like process; symbiosis, horizontal gene transfers and gene fusions build high level composite objects with components of phylogenetically distinct origins. Such processes have been called introgressive events and are significant in evolution. They are involved in some major evolutionary transitions such as eukaryogenesis, photosynthesis acquisition in eukaryotes and the origins of major archaeal clades. Eukaryogenesis would have involved (at least) two kinds of partners: an archaeon and an alpha-proteobacterium. Photosynthetic eukaryotes arose from the integration of a cyanobacterium into a eukaryotic cell and recent findings suggested that most archaeal lineages emerged after massive acquisitions of bacterial genes. These composite lineages carry highly chimeric genomes where genes from symbiotic partners co-localize into the same genome. During my PhD thesis, I used sequence similarity networks and phylogenetic methods in order to study reticulate evolution. My research specifically focused on a previously hidden component of composite genomes: symbiogenetic genes (S genes). These chimeric genes are found in genetic mergers, and originate from the association of genes of symbiotic partners. Some association rules have been discovered. In a broad perspective, the discovery of S-genes extends the concept of genome chimerism to the within-gene level.
L'évolution des organismes, des génomes et des gènes n'est pas strictement arborescente; les symbioses, les transferts horizontaux de gènes ou encore la fusion de gènes créent des objets composites formés de parties dont les histoires évolutives sont différentes. Ces processus non arborescents sont appelés introgressifs et ont un impact non négligeable en évolution. Ils sont à l'origine de transitions évolutives majeures comme l'émergence des eucaryotes, des eucaryotes photosynthétiques ou encore de nombreux groupes d'Archaea. Dans le cas des eucaryotes, l'association et la stabilisation d'une Archaea et d'une alpha-protéobactérie a permis l'émergence d'un nouveau groupe d'organismes composites aux propriétés émergentes. L'acquisition de la photosynthèse chez les eucaryotes s'est faite via l'endosymbiose d'une cyanobactérie et, bien que débattue, l'apparition des grands groupes d'Archaea semble être concomitante avec l'acquisition de nombreux gènes d'origine bactérienne. Ces superorganismes ont la particularité d'avoir des génomes composés de gènes de différents partenaires symbiotiques. L'objectif de mon travail de thèse a constitué à étudier l'aspect introgressif de l'évolution par des méthodes de réseaux de similarité de séquence et des méthodes phylogénétiques. Je me suis particulièrement focalisé sur la détection de nouveaux gènes chimériques nommés gènes symbiogénétiques (S-gènes) car composés de parties originaires des différents partenaires symbiotiques. De tels gènes existent dans les génomes et plusieurs règles d'association ont pu être mises en évidence. Plus généralement, la présence de S-gènes étend la notion de mosaïcisme génomique au niveau infra-génique.
https://tel.archives-ouvertes.fr/tel-01536344

NNT : 2016PA066534
tel-01536344
https://tel.archives-ouvertes.fr/tel-01536344
https://tel.archives-ouvertes.fr/tel-01536344/document
https://tel.archives-ouvertes.fr/tel-01536344/file/2016PA066534.pdf

Éditeur(s) : Université de Bretagne Occidentale
Résumé : Archaea are micro-organisms present in all ecosystems, but are majoritary present in extremophilic environments. Hyperthermophilic Archaea, as Pyrococcus abyssi, are permanently exposed at temperature which can increase the rate of spontaneous DNA damage. It is probable that hyperthermophilic Archaea possess efficient molecular mechanism to duplicate, maintain and stabilize their genomes. The aim of this project was to investigate the interaction network involved in the process of DNA replication and DNA repair. The methodological approach consists in the coupling of pull-down with mass spectrometry identification of interacting partners. A preliminary interaction network was identified that was composed of new proteins as well as unsuspected interactions between known components of DNA replication machinery. The main results consist in: (1) the nuclease Pab2263, which interacts with PCNA, is a novel player in DNA metabolism. (2) PCNA is likely part of a macrocomplex with the ubiquitary proteins Mre11 and Rad50 suggesting a role of this complex in the repair of double strand break in connection with a replication fork. (3) Fen1 and DNA primase interact physically and can collaborate in vitro to resolve intermediate step of the base excision repair pathway. These results enhance our understanding of DNA repair process in Archaea.
Les Archaea sont des micro-organismes rencontrés dans tous les écosystèmes, mais qui apparaissent comme majoritaires dans les environnements dits extrêmes. Les archaea hyperthermophiles, comme Pyrococcus abyssi sont en permanence exposées à des températures qui peuvent augmenter le taux de dommages de l'ADN, pourtant, le taux de mutations spontanés chez ces micro-organismes est similaire à celui des espèces modèles mésophiles. Il est ainsi probable que les hyperthermophiles possèdent des systèmes particulièrement efficaces pour dupliquer, maintenir et stabiliser leur génome. L'objectif de ce projet était d'explorer le réseau d'interaction impliqué dans les processus de réplication et de réparation de l'ADN. L'approche méthodologique mise en oeuvre a consisté à coupler la capture de partenaires d'interaction par pull-down avec leur identification par spectrométrie de masse. J'ai pu ainsi mettre en évidence, au sein l'extrait cellulaire de P. abyssi, un réseau préliminaire reliant des protéines de la maintenance génomique. Nous avons non seulement mis en évidence de nouvelles protéines impliquées probablement dans des mécanismes de réparation, mais également des nouvelles interactions non suspectées entre des composants déjà caractérisés. Les principaux résultats sont les suivants : (1) La nucléase Pab2263, partenaire du PCNA, est un nouvel acteur du métabolisme de l'ADN. (2) Le PCNA forme un macrocomplexe avec les protéines ubiquitaires Mre11 et Rad50 suggérant un rôle de ce complexe dans la réparation des cassures double brin de l'ADN lors de la réplication. (3) Les protéines Fen1 et l'ADN primase interagissent physiquement et peuvent collaborer in vitro pour résoudre une étape intermédiaire de la voie de réparation par excision de base. Ces résultats enrichissent notre compréhension des processus de réparation de l'ADN chez les archées.

Droits : info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess
http://archimer.ifremer.fr/doc/2008/these-3722.pdf
http://archimer.ifremer.fr/doc/00000/3722/

Éditeur(s) : HAL CCSD Elsevier
Résumé : International audience
The mangrove swamp environment constitutes a sulphide rich habitat harbouring some thioautotrophic organisms. The ciliate Zoothamnium niveum and the nematode Eubostrichus dianae, both known to live associated with bacterial sulphide-oxidizing ectosymbionts, were analysed as positive controls by Raman microspectrometry. The detection of the 3 Raman bands characteristic of elemental sulphur (S8) allows us to define a positive model of sulphide-oxidizing symbiotic invertebrates and by extrapolation, of thioautotrophic organisms. A fast screening using this tool was carried out on eukaryotic organisms such as hydrozoan, nematodes, annelids, copepods, and ciliate (Pseudovorticella sp.) and on free-living filamentous bacteria found on decomposing leaves in order to detect thioautotrophic organisms. The Raman microspectrometry permits us: (i) to reveal thioautotrophic metabolism of free-living bacteria (Beggiatoa sp.) and even for Archaea and (ii) to detect sulphide-oxidizing endosymbiotic and ectosymbiotic bacteria associated with the Bivalve Lucina pectinata and Pseudovorticella sp., respectively. Raman microspectrometry represents a fast, easy and non destructive technique which can be used on living organisms without constraints of sample size. The Raman analysis can also be completed by ultrastructural analysis (SEM, TEM) on the same sample.
ISSN: 0141-1136

hal-00715329
https://hal.univ-antilles.fr/hal-00715329
DOI : 10.1016/j.marenvres.2010.02.001

Éditeur(s) : HAL CCSD Oxford University Press
Résumé : International audience
Type IB DNA topoisomerases can eliminate torsional stresses produced during replication and transcription. These enzymes are found in all eukaryotes and a short version is present in some bacteria and viruses. Among prokaryotes, the long eukaryotic version is only observed in archaea of the phylum Thau-marchaeota. However, the activities and the roles of these topoisomerases have remained an open question. Here, we demonstrate that all available thaumar-chaeal genomes contain a topoisomerase IB gene that defines a monophyletic group closely related to the eukaryotic enzymes. We show that the topIB gene is expressed in the model thaumarchaeon Ni-trososphaera viennensis and we purified the recom-binant enzyme from the uncultivated thaumarchaeon Candidatus Caldiarchaeum subterraneum. This enzyme is active in vitro at high temperature, making it the first thermophilic topoisomerase IB characterized so far. We have compared this archaeal type IB enzyme to its human mitochondrial and nuclear counterparts. The archaeal enzyme relaxes both negatively and positively supercoiled DNA like the eukaryotic enzymes. However, its pattern of DNA cleavage specificity is different and it is resistant to camptothecins (CPTs) and non-CPT Top1 inhibitors, LMP744 and lamellarin D. This newly described ther-mostable topoisomerases IB should be a promising new model for evolutionary, mechanistic and structural studies.
ISSN: 0305-1048

Droits : http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/
hal-01327354
http://hal.upmc.fr/hal-01327354
http://hal.upmc.fr/hal-01327354/document
http://hal.upmc.fr/hal-01327354/file/Nucl.%20Acids%20Res.-2016-Dahmane-2795-805.pdf
DOI : 10.1093/nar/gkw097

Éditeur(s) : Wiley-blackwell
Résumé : Alexandrium tamarense (M. Lebour) Balech strains isolated in spring 2007 from a single bloom in Thau lagoon have been grown in nonaxenic artificial media. For three strains showing large oscillations in biomass (crashes followed by recoveries) on a scale of several days, a significant relationship was observed between changes in cell densities (as in vivo fluorescence) and changes in nitrate concentrations. Increases in cell densities were accompanied by decreases in nitrate, while decreases in cell densities corresponded to increases in nitrate, presumably due to nitrification. Net increases in nitrate could reach up to 15 mu mol N . L(-1) . d(-1) indicating a very active nitrifying archaeal/bacterial population. However, following population crashes, algal cells can recover and attain biomass levels similar to those reached during the first growth phase. This finding indicates that those archaea/bacteria do not compete for nutrients or do not hamper algal growth under those conditions. In contrast to diatoms, dinoflagellates such as A. tamarense do not excrete/exude dissolved organic matter, thus preventing excessive bacterial growth. This mechanism could help explain the recovery of this species in the presence of bacteria.
Journal Of Phycology (0022-3646) (Wiley-blackwell), 2011-10 , Vol. 47 , N. 5 , P. 1057-1062

Droits : 2011 Phycological Society of America
http://archimer.ifremer.fr/doc/00049/16046/13585.pdf
DOI:10.1111/j.1529-8817.2011.01031.x
http://archimer.ifremer.fr/doc/00049/16046/

Éditeur(s) : HAL CCSD Wiley-Blackwell
Résumé : International audience
Based on their small size and genomic properties, ultrasmall prokaryotic groups like the Candidate Phyla Radiation have been proposed as possible symbionts dependent on other bacteria or archaea. In this study, we use a bipartite graph analysis to examine patterns of sequence similarity between draft and complete genomes from ultrasmall bacteria and other complete prokaryotic genomes, assessing whether the former group might engage in significant gene transfer (or even endosymbioses) with other community members. Our results provide preliminary evidence for many lateral gene transfers with other prokaryotes, including members of the archaea, and report the presence of divergent, membrane-associated proteins among these ultrasmall taxa. In particular, these divergent genes were found in TM6 relatives of the intracellular parasite Babela massiliensis.
ISSN: 1462-2912

Droits : http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/
hal-01480348
http://hal.upmc.fr/hal-01480348
http://hal.upmc.fr/hal-01480348/document
http://hal.upmc.fr/hal-01480348/file/emi13477.pdf
DOI : 10.1111/1462-2920.13477

Éditeur(s) : HAL CCSD Royal Society
Résumé : International audience
The 2 465 177 bp genome of Sulfolobus islandicus LAL14/1, host of the model rudivirus SIRV2, was sequenced. Exhaustive comparative genomic analysis of S. islandicus LAL14/1 and the nine other completely sequenced S. islandicus strains isolated from Iceland, Russia and USA revealed a highly syntenic common core genome of approximately 2 Mb and a long hyperplastic region containing most of the strain-specific genes. In LAL14/1, the latter region is enriched in insertion sequences, CRISPR (clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats), glycosyl transferase genes, toxin-antitoxin genes and MITE (miniature inverted-repeat transposable elements). The tRNA genes of LAL14/1 are preferential targets for the integration of mobile elements but clusters of atypical genes (CAG) are also integrated elsewhere in the genome. LAL14/1 carries five CRISPR loci with 10 per cent of spacers matching perfectly or imperfectly the genomes of archaeal viruses and plasmids found in the Icelandic hot springs. Strikingly, the CRISPR_2 region of LAL14/1 carries an unusually long 1.9 kb spacer interspersed between two repeat regions and displays a high similarity to pING1-like conjugative plasmids. Finally, we have developed a genetic system for S. islandicus LAL14/1 and created ΔpyrEF and ΔCRISPR_1 mutants using double cross-over and pop-in/pop-out approaches, respectively. Thus, LAL14/1 is a promising model to study virus-host interactions and the CRISPR/Cas defence mechanism in Archaea.
ISSN: 2046-6390

hal-00818894
https://hal.archives-ouvertes.fr/hal-00818894
DOI : 10.1098/rsob.130010
PUBMED : 23594878

Éditeur(s) : HAL CCSD Inter-Research
Résumé : International audience
Sphaeroma serratum is a marine isopod species that inhabits seashores from Europe to West Africa. The individuals live under stones in direct contact with reduced sediments and harbour a diverse bacterial community on the cuticle of their pleopods. We investigated the diversity of these epibiotic bacteria on male (pubescent and senescent) and female specimens with electron microscopic obser vations and molecular tools. The microbial community of S. serratum was shown to be composed of at least 5 bacterial morphotypes observed on the pleopodal cuticle in all male specimens. Using fluorescence in situ hybridization, we identified 5 major phylogenetic groups (α-, β-, γ- and δ-Proteobacteria and Archaea) whereas denaturing gradient gel electro - phoresis (DGGE) of PCR-amplified 16S rRNA gene fragments of epibiotic bacteria revealed 50 bands. The bacterial community associated with S. serratum seems more diverse than in other marine crustaceans, such as Rimicaris. The relative diversity of this bacterial community was also studied in relation to the molt cycle. The comparison of DGGE band patterns of several individuals from female, pubescent male and senescent male groups revealed that the bacterial community diversity was dependent on the sex and the age of the individuals and more generally on the molt status.
Marine Ecology Progress Series

hal-00743743
https://hal.univ-antilles.fr/hal-00743743
DOI : 10.3354/meps09711

Éditeur(s) : HAL CCSD Portland Press
Résumé : International audience
For cellular fitness and survival, gene expression levels need to be regulated in response to a wealth of cellular and environmental signals. TFs (transcription factors) execute a large part of this regulation by interacting with the basal transcription machinery at promoter regions. Archaea are characterized by a simplified eukaryote-like basal transcription machinery and bacteria-type TFs, which convert sequence information into a gene expression output according to cis-regulatory rules. In the present review, we discuss the current state of knowledge about these rules in archaeal systems, ranging from DNA-binding specificities and operator architecture to regulatory mechanisms.
ISSN: 0300-5127

hal-01542965
http://hal.upmc.fr/hal-01542965
DOI : 10.1042/BST20120312

Éditeur(s) : HAL CCSD Springer Verlag
Résumé : International audience
This paper presents a synthesis of a multidisciplinary study carried out along the Nîmes Roman aqueduct, located in the southeast part of France. The study was motivated by archaeologists attempting to explain the partial destructions of only one aerial bridge of the aqueduct (Pont de la Lône). Given its close proximity to the Nîmes seismically active fault, a possible seismic origin for the destructions was invoked. Seismologists and structural engineers thus carried out a variety of field and numerical investigations to test the seismic hypothesis. Supporting field evidence was found first along the aerial bridge section of the aqueduct: broken stalactites, arch warping, cracks and destruction of the bridge just above a breast wall shortly after its construction. Secondly, the underground part of the canal was analysed: irregularity in the thickness of calcite deposits of the canal walls, presence of numerous cracks, horizontal shift of the otherwise linear structure of the canal and presence of calcite twins in the deposits, found only where the canal crosses the Nîmes fault system. Numerical modelling and experimental results show that (1) only the Pont de la Lône would have suffered serious damage under seismic solicitation (assuming an M6 earthquake at 10 km distance). The second aerial bridge, the three levels arches Pont du Gard, an historical monument still standing today, would have suffered less damage, due to its very different fundamental frequency of around 0.4 Hz, far from the amplified seismic near-field spectrum; (2) the numerical models also show that a fall of the canal wall would require a higher magnitude event (M > 6); (3) the presence of calcite twinning requires a differential static stress of 4 MPa or greater, which can only be achieved very close to the fault rupture of a M > 6 earthquake; (4) finally, local surface rupturing of such a fault would also corroborate the hypothesis that the observed offset of the canal may be partly seismically induced. Although other possible origins for each individual evidence may not be excluded, the observed spatiotemporal concentration of architectural/geological anomalies together with the numerical results allow us to support a possible co-seismic origin for these disorders, indirectly attesting to the potential seismic activity (M > 6) of the nearby Nîmes fault. Furthermore, following the conclusions of archaeological studies, the disorders occurred between 250 and 350 year AD, thus providing timing for this possible seismic event, an essential parameter in seismic hazard analysis. These results validate the archaeo-seismological approach as a tool that may help improve the knowledge of major infrequent earthquakes in areas of moderate seismic activity.
ISSN: 0921-030X

hal-00379064
https://hal.archives-ouvertes.fr/hal-00379064
DOI : 10.1007/s11069-008-9276-9

Éditeur(s) : HAL CCSD BioMed Central
Résumé : International audience
Background: Microbial genetic diversity is often investigated via the comparison of relatively similar 16S molecules through multiple alignments between reference sequences and novel environmental samples using phylogenetic trees, direct BLAST matches, or phylotypes counts. However, are we missing novel lineages in the microbial dark universe by relying on standard phylogenetic and BLAST methods? If so, how can we probe that universe using alternative approaches? We performed a novel type of multi-marker analysis of genetic diversity exploiting the topology of inclusive sequence similarity networks. Results: Our protocol identified 86 ancient gene families, well distributed and rarely transferred across the 3 domains of life, and retrieved their environmental homologs among 10 million predicted ORFs from human gut samples and other metagenomic projects. Numerous highly divergent environmental homologs were observed in gut samples, although the most divergent genes were over-represented in non-gut environments. In our networks, most divergent environmental genes grouped exclusively with uncultured relatives, in maximal cliques. Sequences within these groups were under strong purifying selection and presented a range of genetic variation comparable to that of a prokaryotic domain. Conclusions: Many genes families included environmental homologs that were highly divergent from cultured homologs: in 79 gene families (including 18 ribosomal proteins), Bacteria and Archaea were less divergent than some groups of environmental sequences were to any cultured or viral homologs. Moreover, some groups of environmental homologs branched very deeply in phylogenetic trees of life, when they were not too divergent to be aligned. These results underline how limited our understanding of the most diverse elements of the microbial world remains, and encourage a deeper exploration of natural communities and their genetic resources, hinting at the possibility that still unknown yet major divisions of life have yet to be discovered.
ISSN: 1745-6150

Droits : http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/
hal-01257771
http://hal.upmc.fr/hal-01257771
http://hal.upmc.fr/hal-01257771/document
http://hal.upmc.fr/hal-01257771/file/s13062-015-0092-3.pdf
DOI : 10.1186/s13062-015-0092-3

Éditeur(s) : HAL CCSD
Résumé : This work addresses a study of geodynamics in Armenia, a country located in the central part of the zone of continental collision between the Arabian and Eurasian lithosphere plates. The work includes two main parts: study of recent deformations of the lithosphere by means of GPS and detailed paleoseismological and morphometric investigations in the zone of the Artanish-Tskhouk segment of the PSSF. We analyze and compare rates of deformation determined by the GPS data and the rates estimated by the paleoseismological and morphometric studies. The Armenian-French network of GPS observations was installed in Armenia in 1998. Three observation sessions were conducted in 1998, 2000 and 2003. Based on the evidence obtained, a detailed study of the velocity field was conducted to analyze lithosphere deformation in Central and Northern Armenia. Slip rates were estimated for the principal active faults in Armenia. Several field works, including paleoseismological, archaeo-seismological, archaeological, geodetic and morphological studies, had been implemented in the zone of the Artanish-Tskhouk segment of the PSSF in 2003-2005. The fault was mapped in detail; rates of main horizontal and vertical slip along the fault were estimated and re-estimated. Four (4) paleo- and archeo-earthquakes were studied and dated. Eventually, the obtained data allowed us to re-estimate slip rates, maximum possible magnitudes and recurrence intervals of strong earthquakes on the Artanish-Tskhouk segment of the PSSF. A technique enabling estimation of horizontal and vertical displacements along strike-slip faults during paleo-earthquakes by the evidence obtained from paleo-seismological trenching was developed.
Les travaux présentés dans ce mémoire sont consacrés à l'étude de la géodynamique du territoire de l'Arménie qui est situé dans la partie centrale de la zone de collision continentale entre les plaques Arabique et Eurasienne. Le mémoire comprend deux parties principales: 1/ l'étude des déformations actuelles par la géodésie GPS; 2/ l'étude paléosismologique et morphométrique détaillée de la zone du segment d'Artanish-Tskhuk de la faille de Pambak-Sevan-Syunik (PSSF). On présente l'analyse et la comparaison des vitesses de déformations estimées par les données de GPS et par les données paléosismologiques et morphométriques. Le réseau d'observations GPS Arméno - Français a été installé en Arménie en septembre 1998. Trois campagnes de mesure du réseau ont été réalisées en 1998, 2000 et 2003. L'analyse détaillée du champ de vitesse à partir des données GPS a permis d'étudier et de quantifier les déformations actuelles de l'Arménie centrale et septentrionale. On a pu estimer les vitesses des déplacements des failles actives principales du territoire de l'Arménie. Un ensemble de travaux sur le terrain comprenant des recherches paléosismologiques, archéosismologiques, archéologiques, géodésiques, et morphologiques a été réalisé entre 2003 et 2005 dans la zone du segment d'Artanish-Tskhuk de la faille de PSSF. La cartographie détaillée de la faille a été réalisée et l'on a estimé et/ou re-estimés les déplacements horizontaux et verticaux le long de la faille. Quatre paléo- et archéoséismes ont été étudiés et datés. À partir des données obtenues, pour le segment d'Artanish-Tskhuk de la faille de PSSF, on a réévalué les vitesses de déplacements, la magnitude maximale possible, et l'intervalle récurrence des séismes forts. Une méthode d'évaluation des déplacements horizontaux et verticaux a été proposée à partir des logs de tranchées sur les failles de décrochements associées à des paléoséismes.
https://tel.archives-ouvertes.fr/tel-00551535

Droits : info:eu-repo/semantics/OpenAccess
tel-00551535
https://tel.archives-ouvertes.fr/tel-00551535
https://tel.archives-ouvertes.fr/tel-00551535/document
https://tel.archives-ouvertes.fr/tel-00551535/file/thesedavtyan2.pdf

Éditeur(s) : HAL CCSD Oxford University Press (OUP): Policy C - Option B
Résumé : International audience
We report the characterization of a DNA primase/ polymerase protein (PolpTN2) encoded by the pTN2 plasmid from Thermococcus nautilus. Sequence analysis revealed that this protein corresponds to a fusion between an N-terminal domain homologous to the small catalytic subunit PriS of heterodimeric archaeal and eukaryotic primases (AEP) and a C-terminal domain related to their large regulatory subunit PriL. This unique domain configuration is not found in other virus-and plasmid-encoded primases in which PriS-like domains are typically fused to different types of helicases. PolpTN2 exhibited primase, polymerase and nucleotidyl transferase activities and specifically incorporates dNTPs, to the exclusion of rNTPs. PolpTN2 could efficiently prime DNA synthesis by the T. nautilus PolB DNA polymerase, suggesting that it is used in vivo as a primase for pTN2 plasmid replication. The N-terminal PriS-like domain of PolpTN2 exhibited all activities of the full-length enzyme but was much less efficient in priming cellular DNA polymerases. Surprisingly, the N-terminal domain possesses reverse transcriptase activity. We speculate that this activity could reflect an ancestral function of AEP proteins in the transition from the RNA to the DNA world.
ISSN: 0305-1048

Droits : http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/
hal-01332620
http://hal.upmc.fr/hal-01332620
http://hal.upmc.fr/hal-01332620/document
http://hal.upmc.fr/hal-01332620/file/Nucl.%20Acids%20Res.-2014-Gill-3707-19.pdf
DOI : 10.1093/nar/gkt1385