Linking Gene to Function
Constraining genetic traits for trace gas metabolism. Genes, transcripts, and protein sequences are now routinely characterized with the aim of revealing the potential and realized metabolic function of soil microbial communities. Trace gas production and consumption is a critical function of the soil microbiome that involves a myriad of molecular species and pathways, most with poorly resolved genetic underpinnings. Describing genetic traits for trace gas metabolism provides a path forward for extracting predictions of microbial activity from sequence data to help constrain feedbacks of soil microbes to global change. Our aim is to build trait frameworks for trace gases with particular relevance to atmospheric composition and climate by linking genetic diversity to function through genome database mining and measuring trace gas metabolism in cultures and communities.
Current Projects
Distribution of Carbonic Anhydrase Genes in Organisms and the Environment
Genetic Markers for Trace Gas Cycling in Fungi
Key Papers
Soil exchange rates of COS and CO18O shift with the diversity of microbial communities and their carbonic anhydrase enzymes. Read Paper >>>
Coupled biological and abiotic mechanisms driving carbonyl sulfide production in soils. Read Paper >>>
Consumption of atmospheric H2 during the life cycle of soil-dwelling actinobacteria. Read Paper >>>
Recent Highlights
Key Collaborators
Esther Singer (Department of Energy, Joint Genome Institute)
Jana U’Ren (UA Biosystems Engineering)