Energetic convergence drives metabolic adaptation in lirima chilean high-altitude hydrothermal system

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.

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Publication Details

Journal
Communications Earth & Environment
Published
2025-11-11
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1038/s43247-025-02817-w
Primary Topic
Microbial Community Ecology and Physiology
Type
article
Field-Weighted Citation Impact
0.00

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article

Energetic convergence drives metabolic adaptation in lirima chilean high-altitude hydrothermal system

Pablo Paquis, Verónica Molina, Joseline Tapia, Martha Hengst et al.
Communications Earth & Environment
Microbial Community Ecology and Physiology
article

Energetic convergence drives metabolic adaptation in lirima chilean high-altitude hydrothermal system

Pablo Paquis, Verónica Molina, Joseline Tapia, Martha Hengst, July Z. Florez, Paola Quatrini, Coral Pardo-Esté, Marcela Cornejo, Wade H. Jeffrey, Chris Harrod, Franco Tassi, Sergio Calabrese, Vilma Pérez, Pablo A. Pérez
article en

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.

Communications Earth & EnvironmentVol. 6(1)
Universidad de Antofagasta (CL), Pontificia Universidad Católica de Valparaíso (CL), Miles College (US), University of Concepción (CL), Universidad Católica del Norte (CL), Istituto Nazionale di Geofisica e Vulcanologia (IT), Institute of Geosciences and Earth Resources (IT), Universidad de Playa Ancha de Ciencias de la Educación (CL), National Research Council (IT), University of Florence (IT), The University of Adelaide (AU), University of Glasgow (GB), University of West Florida (US), University of Palermo (IT)
Universidad Católica del Norte, Università degli Studi di Palermo, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Valparaíso, Universidad de Antofagasta, Agencia Nacional de Investigación y Desarrollo, Fondo Nacional de Desarrollo Científico y Tecnológico
Openalex Percentile: Top 67%
Microbial Community Ecology and Physiology
DOIOpen Access PDFOpenAlex
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