Expression abundances of urease genes and microbe sources of urease in cinnamon soil revealed via metatranscriptomic sequencing

Previous studies showed that the urease genes responsible for urea degradation in cinnamon soil were from bacteria, fungi and archaea. To clarify the expression abundances of urease genes, soil RNA extraction and metatranscriptomic sequencing were performed to screen urease genes with high expressions in RNA level. A total of 122 structural genes(93 ureC, 16 ureB and 13 ureA)and 115 accessory genes(29 ureD, 12 ureE, 36 ureF, 29 ureG, 5 ureH and 4 ureJ) were identified. The expression values of ureB, ureA, ureG, ureH and ureJ transcripts were below 2 in TPM (Transcripts per Million), however the highest expression values of ureC, ureD, ureE and ureF were 3.17, 5.37, 2.01 and 2.71 in TPM respectively. Bacillus, Sporosarcina, Arthrobacter, Streptomyces and Paenibacillus played essential roles in the degradation of urea in cinnamon soil.