Haloarchaeal diversity in 23, 121 and 419 MYA salts

  1. J. S. PARK1,
  2. R. H. VREELAND2,
  3. B. C. CHO3,
  4. T. K. LOWENSTEIN4,
  5. M. N. TIMOFEEFF4,
  6. W. D. ROSENZWEIG2

Article first published online: 22 OCT 2009

DOI: 10.1111/j.1472-4669.2009.00218.x

Issue

Geobiology

Geobiology

Volume 7, Issue 5, pages 515–523, December 2009

Additional Information

How to Cite

PARK, J. S., VREELAND, R. H., CHO, B. C., LOWENSTEIN, T. K., TIMOFEEFF, M. N. and ROSENZWEIG, W. D. (2009), Haloarchaeal diversity in 23, 121 and 419 MYA salts. Geobiology, 7: 515–523. doi: 10.1111/j.1472-4669.2009.00218.x

Author Information

  1. 1

    Canadian Institute for Advanced Research, Program in Integrated Microbial Diversity, and Department of Biology, Dalhousie University, Halifax, Canada

  2. 2

    Ancient Biomaterials Institute and Department of Biology, West Chester University, West Chester, Pennsylvania, USA

  3. 3

    Molecular and Marine Ecology Laboratory, School of Earth and Environmental Sciences, Seoul National University, Seoul, Korea

  4. 4

    Department of Geological Sciences, Binghamton University, Binghamton, New York, USA

*Corresponding author: Prof R. H. Vreeland. Tel.: +1 610 436 2479; fax: +1 610 436 2183; e-mail: rvreeland@wcupa.edu

Publication History

  1. Issue published online: 9 NOV 2009
  2. Article first published online: 22 OCT 2009
  3. Received 10 June 2009; accepted 04 September 2009

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Abstract

DNA was extracted from surface-sterilized salt of different geological ages (23, 121, 419 million years of age, MYA) to investigate haloarchaeal diversity. Only Haloarcula and Halorubrum DNA was found in 23 MYA salt. Older crystals contained unclassified groups and Halobacterium. The older crystals yielded a unique 55-bp insert within the 16S rRNA V2 region. The secondary structure of the V2 region completely differed from that in haloarchaea of modern environments. The DNA demonstrates that unknown haloarchaea and the Halobacterium were key components in ancient hypersaline environments. Halorubrum and Haloarcula appear to be a dominant group in relatively modern hypersaline habitats.

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