Substantial genetic potential for deep-sea chemoautotrophy extends beyond nitrifiers.

Chemoautotrophs with marker genes for autotrophic DIC fixation are abundant and widespread in Northeast Pacific metagenomes, comprising 11%–26% of communities from 150–4,000 m depth.

• Why it matters: Chemoautotrophy may help sustain deep marine ecosystems and influence global carbon sequestration, but mechanisms and key mediators remain poorly characterized, especially outside nitrification.
• What they did: The study analyzed 28 Northeast Pacific metagenomes using gene-based and genome-resolved approaches, building 128 chemoautotrophic MAGs and comparing prevalence of carbon fixation pathways across depth.
• The result: MAGs encoded diverse inorganic oxidation (CO 77.3%, sulfur 69.5%, ammonia 5.5%, methane 3.1%), with CO oxidation genes suggesting an underappreciated aerobic CO-oxidation role and enabling improved inventories for predicting deep-sea chemoautotrophy.

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