深海冷泉微生物遗传资源研究进展

Research progress of microbial genetic resources in deep-sea cold seeps

摘要:

深海冷泉由甲烷等烃类化合物渗漏形成，其独特的生态环境孕育了新颖且系统发育多样的原核生物、真核生物和病毒。冷泉微生物通过化能合成作用获得能量和物质，驱动碳、硫、氮等元素的生物地球化学循环，维持着冷泉生态系统的稳定。冷泉生境蕴含丰富的微生物遗传资源，特别是极端环境下产生的酶和次级代谢产物，具有脱卤、固氮和抗菌等作用，在农业、药物开发和环境保护等领域展现出潜在的应用前景。此外，冷泉微生物与天然气水合物开采的环境影响评估紧密相关，并在全球气候变化中扮演重要角色。为了有效开发深海冷泉微生物的遗传资源，未来研究应通过原位采样、测序和培养技术，结合环境参数监测，深入探讨冷泉微生物的生态角色与进化机制，挖掘冷泉微生物的基因资源，研究水合物开采中的微生物响应，从而为全面开发深海冷泉微生物遗传资源及水合物资源提供科学依据。

Abstract:

Deep-sea cold seeps are formed by the leakage of hydrocarbons such as methane, creating unique eco-environments that foster novel and phylogenetically diverse prokaryotes, eukaryotes, and viruses. Cold seep microorganisms obtain energy and substances through chemosynthesis, driving the biogeochemical cycles of elements such as carbon, sulfur, and nitrogen, thereby maintaining the stability of the cold seep ecosystem. Cold seep habitats contain rich microbial genetic resources, especially enzymes and secondary metabolites produced under extreme conditions, which exhibit dehalogenating, nitrogen-fixing, and antimicrobial activities, with potential applications in agriculture, drug development, and environmental protection. Additionally, cold seep microorganisms are closely related to the environmental impact assessment of natural gas hydrate extraction and play a significant role in global climate change. To effectively develop the microbial genetic resources in deep-sea cold seeps, researchers should combine in situ sampling, sequencing, and culture methods with environmental parameter monitoring to explore the ecological roles and evolutionary mechanisms of these microorganisms, delve into their genetic resources, and investigate microbial responses during hydrate extraction. Such efforts will provide a scientific basis for comprehensively developing microbial genetic resources and hydrate resources in deep-sea cold seeps.