Metagenomic and Proteomic Analyses of a Mangrove Microbial Community Following Green Macroalgae Enteromorpha prolifera Degradation.

A mangrove microbial community was analyzed at the gene and protein levels using metagenomic and proteomic methods with the green macroalgae Enteromorpha prolifera as the substrate. Total DNA was sequenced on the Illumina HiSeq 2000 PE-100 platform. Two-dimensional gel electrophoresis in combination with liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry was used for proteomic analysis. The metagenomic data revealed that the orders Pseudomonadales, Rhizobiales, and Sphingomonadales were the most prevalent in the mangrove microbial community. By monitoring changes at the functional level, proteomic analyses detected ATP synthase and transporter proteins, which were expressed mainly by members of the phyla Proteobacteria and Bacteroidetes. Members of the phylum Proteobacteria expressed a high number of sugar transporters and demonstrated specialized and efficient digestion of various glycans. A few glycoside hydrolases were detected in members of the phylum Firmicutes, which appeared to be the main cellulose-degrading bacteria. This is the first report of multiple "omics" analysis of E. prolifera degradation. These results support the fact that key enzymes of glycoside hydrolase family were expressed in large quantities, indicating the high metabolic activity of the community.