Whole genome analysis of the marine Bacteroidetes'Gramella forsetii' reveals adaptations to degradation of polymeric organic matter.
Members of the Bacteroidetes, formerly known as the Cytophaga-Flavobacteria-Bacteroides (CFB) phylum, are among the major taxa of marine heterotrophic bacterioplankton frequently found on macroscopic organic matter particles (marine snow). In addition, they have been shown to also represent a significant part of free-living microbial assemblages in nutrient-rich microenvironments. Their abundance and distribution pattern in combination with enzymatic activity studies has led to the notion that organisms of this group are specialists for degradation of high molecular weight compounds in both the dissolved and particulate fraction of the marine organic matter pool, implying a major role of Bacteroidetes in the marine carbon cycle. Despite their ecological importance, comprehensive molecular data on organisms of this group have been scarce so far. Here we report on the first whole genome analysis of a marine Bacteroidetes representative, 'Gramella forsetii' KT0803. Functional analysis of the predicted proteome disclosed several traits which in joint consideration suggest a clear adaptation of this marine Bacteroidetes representative to the degradation of high molecular weight organic matter, such as a substantial suite of genes encoding hydrolytic enzymes, a predicted preference for polymeric carbon sources and a distinct capability for surface adhesion.
Bauer
Margarete
M
Max Planck Institute for Marine Microbiology, Celsiusstrasse 1, D-28359 Bremen, Germany. mbauer@mpi-bremen.de
Kube
Michael
M
Teeling
Hanno
H
Richter
Michael
M
Lombardot
Thierry
T
Allers
Elke
E
Würdemann
Chris A
CA
Quast
Christian
C
Kuhl
Heiner
H
Knaust
Florian
F
Woebken
Dagmar
D
Bischof
Kerstin
K
Mussmann
Marc
M
Choudhuri
Jomuna V
JV
Meyer
Folker
F
Reinhardt
Richard
R
Amann
Rudolf I
RI
Glöckner
Frank Oliver
FO
D000222:Adaptation, Physiological; D018829:Adhesins, Bacterial / Q000235:genetics; D041965:Flavobacteriaceae / Q000201:enzymology / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D016678:Genome / Q000235:genetics*; D006867:Hydrolases / Q000235:genetics; D008970:Molecular Weight; D009930:Organic Chemicals / Q000378:metabolism; D010447:Peptide Hydrolases / Q000235:genetics; D011108:Polymers / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism*; D020543:Proteome / Q000235:genetics*; D012623:Seawater / Q000382:microbiology; D014166:Transferases / Q000235:genetics
D018829:Adhesins, Bacterial; D009930:Organic Chemicals; D011108:Polymers; D020543:Proteome; D014166:Transferases; D006867:Hydrolases; D010447:Peptide Hydrolases