Soil Biosynthetic Gene Cluster Phylum-Depth-Vegetation Community

A soil bacterial community surveyed for secondary-metabolite biosynthetic gene cluster (BGC) content across three sites in a northern California Critical Zone Observatory with varying vegetation and bedrock. 1,334 metagenome-assembled genomes were reconstructed and screened for BGCs, including genomes for prolific producers among Actinobacteria, Chloroflexi, and candidate phylum Candidatus Dormibacteraeota. One Candidate Phyla Radiation (CPR) bacterial genome encoded a ribosomally synthesized linear azole/azoline-containing peptide, a capacity also found in other publicly available CPR genomes. Bacteria with higher biosynthetic potential were enriched in shallow soils and grassland soils, with BGC-type patterns varying by taxonomy.