[FeFe] hydrogenase genetic diversity provides insight into molecular adaptation in a saline microbial mat community

Degenerate primers for the [FeFe] hydrogenase (hydA) were developed and used in PCRs to examine hydA in microbial mats that inhabit saltern evaporative ponds in Guerrero Negro (GN), Mexico. A diversity of deduced HydA was discovered that revealed unique variants, which may reflect adaptation to the environmental conditions present in GN.