Trace metals are required as cofactors in metalloproteins that are essential in microbial metabolism and growth. The microbial requirements of diverse metals and the capabilities of prokaryotic taxa to acquire these metals remain poorly understood. We present here results from metagenomic observations over an entire productive season in the region off Kerguelen Island (Indian Sector of the Southern Ocean). We observed seasonal patterns in the abundance of prokaryotic transporters of seven trace elements (zinc [Zn], manganese [Mn], nickel [Ni], molybdenum [Mo], tungsten [W], copper [Cu] and cobalt [Co]) and the consecutive spring and summer phytoplankton blooms were strong drivers of these temporal trends. Taxonomic affiliation of the functional genes revealed that Rhodobacteraceae had a broad repertoire of trace metal transporters (Mn, Zn, Ni, W and Mo) and a more restricted set was observed for other prokaryotic groups, such as Flavobacteriaceae (Zn), Nitrincolaceae (Ni and W) and Thioglobaceae (Mo). The prevalence of trace metal transporters within a prokaryotic group, as determined on the family level, was overall confirmed in representative metagenome‐assembled genomes. We discuss the potential involvement of prokaryotic groups in processes related to organic matter utilisation that require these metals and the consequences on carbon and trace metal cycling in surface waters of the Southern Ocean.

中文翻译：

---

南大洋浮游植物大量繁殖期间微生物痕量金属转运蛋白的季节性动态


痕量金属是金属蛋白中的辅助因子所必需的，金属蛋白在微生物代谢和生长中是必不可少的。对不同金属的微生物需求和原核生物分类群获取这些金属的能力仍然知之甚少。我们在这里展示了在 Kerguelen 岛（南大洋的印度部分）附近地区整个生产季节的宏基因组观测结果。我们观察到七种微量元素（锌 [Zn]、锰 [Mn]、镍 [Ni]、钼 [Mo]、钨 [W]、铜 [Cu] 和钴 [Co]）的原核转运蛋白丰度的季节性模式，连续的春季和夏季浮游植物大量繁殖是这些时间趋势的强大驱动力。功能基因的分类学隶属关系显示，红杆菌科具有广泛的痕量金属转运蛋白（Mn、Zn、Ni、W 和 Mo），并且观察到其他原核类群的一组更有限，例如黄杆菌科 （Zn）、Nitrincolaceae （Ni 和 W） 和硫球科 （Mo）。在家族水平上确定的原核生物组中痕量金属转运蛋白的普遍性在代表性的宏基因组组装基因组中得到总体证实。我们讨论了原核基团可能参与需要这些金属的有机物利用相关过程，以及对南大洋表层水中碳和痕量金属循环的影响。