Proteomic evidence of microbial weathering processes beneath the Greenland Ice Sheet

GSTDTAP

项目编号	1603276
	Proteomic evidence of microbial weathering processes beneath the Greenland Ice Sheet
	Karen Junge
主持机构	University of Washington
项目开始年	2016
	2016-08-01
项目结束日期	2017-07-31
资助机构	US-NSF
项目类别	Standard Grant
项目经费	150755(USD)
国家	美国
语种	英语
英文摘要	Greenland Ice Sheet (GrIS) melting is increasing. The associated runoff to the adjacent oceans may have important impacts on marine ecosystems. Meltwater characteristics, such as iron, sulfate and carbon content, are not well known and depend on the extent and activity of weathering reactions beneath the ice sheet. Microbes in these critical subglacial environments are important contributors of chemical weathering processes, yet, to date, direct molecular evidence of such processes remains to be obtained from GrIS subglacial environments. Here, the principal investigators propose to optimize methods to analyze samples obtained previously from GrIS subglacial meltwaters and to identify evidence of microbial activity in GrIS? subglacial meltwaters. This is necessary background information required to develop models of the potential impact of increasing meltwater discharge from GrIS on local and downstream commercial fisheries. This project will contribute to STEM manpower development by offering research experience to an undergraduate student and mentoring to a female postdoctoral researcher. Its public K-12 focused outreach efforts include workshops and exhibits at three annual Science Weekend experiences for the museum-going public at Seattle?s Pacific Science Center (Polar Science, Life Science Research, and UW PAWS on Science). Each event provides the possibility of one-on-one interactions with over 9000 students from diverse socio-economic backgrounds, allowing time to excite students during explanation of the ?Greenland ice microbes? exhibit and presentation of a hands-on mass spectrometry model. This work will ultimately provide the first direct molecular evidence for enzymatic microbe-mediated nutrient cycling and remineralization (e.g., iron, sulfate, carbon release) underneath the GrIS. It constitutes the critical first step towards improving conceptual models of microbial GrIS weathering and its resulting impact on nutrient fluxes to future polar oceans. Specifically, the principal investigator anticipates that it will: 1. Optimize protein extraction and environmental proteomics techniques for subglacial meltwater samples; 2. Identify enzymes involved in microbial weathering and nutrient release to the ocean; 3. Decipher molecular protective mechanisms that help microbes in the subglacial environment survive; 4. Identify protein/peptide biomarkers to identify and quantify key metabolic processes in future subglacial studies; and 5. Promote further discovery of novel cold-adaptive enzymes of significant interest to environmental ecologists and industrial scientists. Through these efforts, the PIs will demonstrate the ability to detect enzyme-controlled weathering, a prerequisite to quantify and track these processes in detail in the field (e.g., by combining geochemical measurements with targeted quantitative proteomics and 13C-isotopic tracer studies). The success of this project has the potential to fundamentally change the way in which science views the effects of ice sheet melting. Identification and quantification of the microbial processes controlling weathering and nutrient availability is critical to the next generation of conceptual models ice sheet-ocean interaction.
来源学科分类	Geosciences - Polar Programs
文献类型	项目
条目标识符	http://119.78.100.173/C666/handle/2XK7JSWQ/69907
专题	环境与发展全球科技态势
推荐引用方式 GB/T 7714	Karen Junge.Proteomic evidence of microbial weathering processes beneath the Greenland Ice Sheet.2016.