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oai:figshare.com:article/32641458 2026-10-01T16:23:17Z portal_1172 item_type_8 month_year_10_2026

An investigation into the microbial metabolism of polyphosphate and phosphite Jack W. F. Nicholls (24169983) PUREID: 644059816 polyphosphate phosphite microbial cycling biogeochemical cycles dissimilatory phosphite oxidation assimilatory phosphite oxidation haloarchaea archaea Inorganic phosphate (Pi) is the most bioavailable form of phosphorus but is often limiting in many ecosystems. Consequently, microorganisms have evolved to acquire phosphorus from alternative compounds such as phosphite and polyphosphate. Despite their ecological importance, the microbial cycling of these compounds remain poorly characterised, particularly in the Archaea. Therefore, this thesis set out to further expand the metabolic and taxonomic diversity of these pathways. The first instances of 2-AEP and polyphosphate consumption in the Archaea were revealed, along with a novel mechanism catalyzing polyphosphate degradation. Additionally, the diversity of dissimilatory and assimilatory phosphite oxidising microorganisms was greatly expanded through targeted enrichments and bioinformatics-based approaches. Overall, this work significantly advances our understanding of microbial phosphorus cycling, emphasising the importance of phosphite and polyphosphate and the microbial pathways involved in their metabolism. This also demonstrates that alternative phosphorus compounds can potentially sustain microbial processes such as carbon fixation, respiration, and nitrogen fixation in ecosystems previously thought to be constrained by Pi limitation.<br><br><i>Thesis embargoed until 31st December 2027</i> 2026-10-01T16:23:17Z Text Thesis 10.17034/32641458.v1 https://figshare.com/articles/thesis/An_investigation_into_the_microbial_metabolism_of_polyphosphate_and_phosphite/32641458 All Rights Reserved Open Access after 2027-12-31