Abstract
It has recently been hypothesized that life on Earth could have beenoriginated in hyperalkaline waters related to serpentinization ofophiolitic rocks, despite their extreme conditions (high pH and verylow levels of nutrients). Five hyperalkaline springs of the Kizildagophiolite complex (Turkey) were characterized. The dominant gasesare either H2, CH4 or N2 . Bacterial diversity, analysed by RISA(Ribosomal Intergenic Spacer Analysis) revealed different profles foreach spring. Sequencing of excised DNA bands allowed to identifythe presence of Bacillus, Ralstonia, Pseudoalteromonas., Ureibacillus,Alicycliphilus, Anaerococcus. 16S ribosomal DNA sequencing byIllumina is in progress. Three samples were also positive for the presenceof pmoA (encoding the key enzyme of methane oxidation) confrmingthe presence of methanotrophs in accordance to gas analyses thatshowed clues of microbial methane oxidation in the isotopic ratio. Thepresence of methanotrophs in these hyperalkaline springs highlightsthe extraordinary capability of the methanotrophs to adapt to extremeconditions.
| Lingua originale | English |
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| Titolo della pubblicazione ospite | Federazione Italiana Scienze della Vita: program and Abstracts of the XIV FISV CONGRESS. Sapienza University of Rome, Italy. September 20 - 23, 2016 |
| Pagine | 45-46 |
| Numero di pagine | 2 |
| Stato di pubblicazione | Published - 2016 |