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Journal article
Energetic convergence drives metabolic adaptation in lirima chilean high-altitude hydrothermal system
Communications earth & environment, Vol.6(1), p.886
11/11/2025
Web of Science ID: WOS:001644312100002
Abstract
High-altitude hydrothermal systems provide laboratories for understanding microbial adaptation to extreme conditions. Here we investigated thermodynamic controls on metabolic transitions in Lirima hydrothermal system (Chile, 4000 meters above sea level) calculating affinities of competing carbon and sulfur reactions across pools (53–75 °C). Through geochemistry, numerical thermodynamic modeling, and stable isotope analysis, we identify Energetic Convergence Nodes where chemical affinities of competing pathways become equal. Calculations reveal hydrogenotrophic and carboxydotrophic methanogenesis converge with sulfate reduction at 63–64 °C. This corresponds with responses: carbon isotopes shift from −17.2‰ to −27.7‰, sulfur isotopes from −20.5‰ to −9.1‰, and carbon-to-sulfur ratios drop from ~10 to <1, indicating transition from carbon to sulfur-dominated metabolism. Microbial activity collapses at this temperature, while metagenomics validates both pathways. Independent analysis confirms convergence at 63–64 °C, establishing Energetic Convergence Nodes as predictive frameworks for metabolic boundaries with applications for early Earth biogeochemistry and extraterrestrial biosignature detection.
Equal affinities of competing reactions at an energetic convergence node demonstrated a metabolic transition in the high-altitude Lirima hydrothermal system of Chile, according to combined geochemistry, thermodynamic modeling, stable isotope analysis, microbial activity measurements, and metagenomics.
Details
- Title
- Energetic convergence drives metabolic adaptation in lirima chilean high-altitude hydrothermal system
- Publication Details
- Communications earth & environment, Vol.6(1), p.886
- Resource Type
- Journal article
- Publisher
- Nature Publishing Group UK
- Number of pages
- 16
- Grant note
- Universidad Catlica del Norte (UCN) through the Vicerrectora de Investigacin y Desarrollo Tecnolgico (VRIDT), UCN-VRIDT Pro-Fondecyt "Mechanisms of adaptation of microbial communities of high-altitude geothermal environmentsFondo Nacional de Desarrollo Cientfico y Tecnolgico (National Fund for Scientific and Technological Development): FONDECYT REGULAR 1181773, FONDECYT REGULAR 1201692, FONDECYT REGULAR 1211515, FONDECYT REGULAR 1240245
This research was supported by the Fondo Nacional de Desarrollo Cientifico y Tecnologico (FONDECYT) through grants 1171324, 1181773, 1201692, 1211515, and 1240245. Additional funding was provided by the Universidad Catolica del Norte (UCN) through the Vicerrectoria de Investigacion y Desarrollo Tecnologico (VRIDT), UCN-VRIDT Pro-Fondecyt "Mechanisms of adaptation of microbial communities of high-altitude geothermal environments and their importance for understanding the origin of life on early Earth" and UCN-VRIDT2095 N degrees 128/2022 "Bio-geochemical satellite recognition system in high-altitude hydrothermal ecosystems: climatic evolution and automated prediction models". P. Paquis was supported by an Agencia Nacional de Investigacion y Desarrollo (ANID) doctoral scholarship (Folio N degrees 21221380), which also funded the dual doctoral program between UCN and Universita degli Studi di Palermo (UNIPA). C. Pardo-Este and J.Z. Florez were supported by ANID postdoctoral fellowships 3230189 and 3220102, respectively. We acknowledge Pedro and the Luca family for providing accommodation during field expeditions to Lirima, and Julio Ticuna for granting authorization to conduct research within the Lirima hydrothermal system. We thank Yasna Marambio Alfaro for her expertise in geochemical analyses, Felipe Docmac Monardes for assistance with stable isotopic studies, Ana Maria Zarate Riveira for fieldwork support, Lenka Kurte Palma for expedition organization and in-situ experimental analyses, and Jonathan Garcia Araya for aerial drone imaging. This research benefited from collaborative arrangements with several institutional facilities at Universidad Catolica del Norte, Chile: The Laboratorio de Ecologia Molecular y Microbiologia Aplicada (EMMA LAB), the Laboratorio de Geoquimica, the Centro de Investigacion Tecnologica del Agua y Sustentabilidad en el Desierto (CEITSAZA), and the Unidad de Equipamiento Cientifico MAINI. We acknowledge scientific support from the Nucleo de Investigacion No.7 UCN-VRIDT 076/2020, Nucleo de modelacion y simulacion cientifica (NMSC), for providing access to high-performance computing (HPC) facilities. We express gratitude to the Fish and Stable Isotope Ecology Laboratory and the University of Antofagasta Stable Isotope Facility (UASIF) at Universidad de Antofagasta, Chile, and to the Greenhouse Gas Laboratory (LABGEI) at Pontificia Universidad Catolica de Valparaiso, Chile, for their collaborative contributions to this research.
- Copyright
- © 2025, The Author(s)
- Identifiers
- WOS:001644312100002; 99381543122306600
- Academic Unit
- Biology; Center for Environmental Diagnostics and Bioremediation ; Hal Marcus College of Science and Engineering
- Language
- English