Thermodynamic modelling of metagenome-inferred proteins reveals metastable equilibrium of microbial communitiy with redox gradient in peat soil
Peatlands represent only 3% of the terrestrial surface but store up to 30% of the world's soil carbon. How environmental and anthropogenic forcing will alter the microbial activity controlling peatland carbon balance is poorly understood. In this presentation, i will show how metagenomic data can be used to develop a thermodynamic model of protein metastability that links the chemical composition of microbial communities to redox gradients in peat soil. This work provides a mechanistic understanding of the co-evolution of biosphere and geosphere and offer prospects for the predictive modeling of microbial communitiy composition in disturbed peatlands.
