Year: 2026
Type: preprint
Abstract: Kiritimatiellia are a class of Verrucomicrobiota whose few cultured representatives are known for hosting large repertoires of carbohydrate-active enzymes and sulfatases. Many families of this class are restricted to metagenome-assembled genomes not yet discussed in literature, leaving their genome organization undescribed. Here, we survey 898 Kiritimatiellia genomes using similarity-colocalization networks (SCoNes), a data structure that captures conserved synteny among homologous genes across genomes. Using this approach, we investigate four metabolic adaptations to a glycan-rich environment: complex polysaccharide degradation, nitrogen cycling, hydrogenase activity, and natural product biosynthesis. Rather than unrelated functions, these capacities envelop a single anaerobic and saccharolytic strategy where sulfated glycan hydrolysis fuels fermentation, hydrogenases balance redox, and excess carbon supports nitrogen fixation.
Authors: Aaron Oliver, Sheila Podell, Eric E Allen
Language: English
Subfield: Molecular Biology
Domain: Life Sciences
Open Access status: green
OpenAlex ID: W7221069118