The Wood-Ljungdahl pathway as a key component of metabolic versatility in candidate phylum Bipolaricaulota (Acetothermia, OP1).

The Wood-Ljungdahl (WL) pathway is an important component of the metabolic machinery in multiple anaerobic prokaryotes, including numerous yet-uncultured bacterial phyla. The pathway can operate in the reductive and oxidative directions, enabling a wide range of metabolic processes. Here, we present a detailed analysis of 14 newly acquired, previously analysed, and publicly available genomic assemblies belonging to the candidate phylum Bipolaricaulota (candidate division OP1, and candidatus Acetothermia), where the occurrence of WL pathway appears to be universal.