PROGRAMA NACIONAL DE CIENCIA ANTÁRTICA (PROCIEN)
| Título | Microbial-based copper solubilization from chalcopyrite in Antarctic soils |
| Línea de investigación | Biotecnología |
| Résumen | In Antarctica, soil ecosystems support simple trophic networks dominated by microorganisms and characterized by a limited diversity of vascular plants and invertebrate taxa. The relative simplicity of the Antarctic terrestrial ecosystems makes them attractive model systems to study the role of microorganisms in the biogeochemistry of trace metals. High levels of copper (Cu), an essential trace metal for all living organisms, have been reported in Antarctic soils, primarily as a consequence of naturally occurring (bio) geochemical weathering of terrigenous sources, but also due to anthropogenic activities. Copper is a relevant cofactor for the nutrition of plants and other organisms in Antarctic soil ecosystems. However, in locations where no anthropogenic input of Cu is occurring, it is often unavailable to the biota, since it is usually present as a sulfide mineral, such as chalcopyrite, imposing a limitation in the access of this trace element to living organisms. This project will focus specifically on the currently unexplored adaptations/capacities of Antarctic microbial communities to solubilize Cu from its inaccessible mineral forms, particularly from chalcopyrite, both at the actual temperature of Antarctica, but also, at the predicted temperature in a climate change scenario. We will address this aim through a multidisciplinary approach that involves mineralogical studies, soil biogeochemistry and microbial ecology. The mineralogy and physicochemistry will be addressed through the study of the elemental composition and the chemical characterization of chalcopyrite rich Antarctic soils, including C and N isotopes, soil organic carbon pH, and inorganic nutrients. We will determine the microbial community structuring and their activity with a special focus on iron-oxidizing & sulfur-oxidizing microorganisms through metagenomics and metatranscriptomics. We will evaluate the endogenous capacity of the antarctic microbial community to dissolve copper from chalcopyrite minerals present in soils at low temperatures and at the temperature projected for a climate change scenario through laboratory experiments. |
| Investigador principal (IP) | Carlos Andrés Henríquez Castillo |
| Contacto | carlos.henriquez@ceaza.cl |
| Universidad | Centro de Estudios Avanzados en Zonas Áridas |
| Año de ejecución | 2022-2025 |
| Co-investigadores | Daniel Alfredo Valenzuela Heredia |
| Colaboración Internacional | |
| Tipo de proyecto | Terreno |
| Código del proyecto | RT_36-21 |
| Equidad | M |
| Sector de trabajo | |
| Número | 89 |
| Título | Microbial-based copper solubilization from chalcopyrite in Antarctic soils |
| Línea de investigación | Biotecnología |
| Résumen | In Antarctica, soil ecosystems support simple trophic networks dominated by microorganisms and characterized by a limited diversity of vascular plants and invertebrate taxa. The relative simplicity of the Antarctic terrestrial ecosystems makes them attractive model systems to study the role of microorganisms in the biogeochemistry of trace metals. High levels of copper (Cu), an essential trace metal for all living organisms, have been reported in Antarctic soils, primarily as a consequence of naturally occurring (bio) geochemical weathering of terrigenous sources, but also due to anthropogenic activities. Copper is a relevant cofactor for the nutrition of plants and other organisms in Antarctic soil ecosystems. However, in locations where no anthropogenic input of Cu is occurring, it is often unavailable to the biota, since it is usually present as a sulfide mineral, such as chalcopyrite, imposing a limitation in the access of this trace element to living organisms. This project will focus specifically on the currently unexplored adaptations/capacities of Antarctic microbial communities to solubilize Cu from its inaccessible mineral forms, particularly from chalcopyrite, both at the actual temperature of Antarctica, but also, at the predicted temperature in a climate change scenario. We will address this aim through a multidisciplinary approach that involves mineralogical studies, soil biogeochemistry and microbial ecology. The mineralogy and physicochemistry will be addressed through the study of the elemental composition and the chemical characterization of chalcopyrite rich Antarctic soils, including C and N isotopes, soil organic carbon pH, and inorganic nutrients. We will determine the microbial community structuring and their activity with a special focus on iron-oxidizing & sulfur-oxidizing microorganisms through metagenomics and metatranscriptomics. We will evaluate the endogenous capacity of the antarctic microbial community to dissolve copper from chalcopyrite minerals present in soils at low temperatures and at the temperature projected for a climate change scenario through laboratory experiments. |
| Investigador principal (IP) | Carlos Andrés Henríquez Castillo |
| Contacto | carlos.henriquez@ceaza.cl |
| Universidad | Centro de Estudios Avanzados en Zonas Áridas |
| Año de ejecución | 2022-2025 |
| Co-investigadores | Daniel Alfredo Valenzuela Heredia |
| Colaboración Internacional | |
| Tipo de proyecto | Terreno |
| Código del proyecto | RT_36-21 |
| Equidad | M |
| Sector de trabajo | |
| Número | 89 |