title: Ecological genomics of marine Roseobacters.
abstract: Bacterioplankton of the marine Roseobacter clade have genomes that reflect a dynamic environment and diverse interactions with marine plankton. Comparative genome sequence analysis of three cultured representatives suggests that cellular requirements for nitrogen are largely provided by regenerated ammonium and organic compounds (polyamines, allophanate, and urea), while typical sources of carbon include amino acids, glyoxylate, and aromatic metabolites. An unexpectedly large number of genes are predicted to encode proteins involved in the production, degradation, and efflux of toxins and metabolites. A mechanism likely involved in cell-to-cell DNA or protein transfer was also discovered: vir-related genes encoding a type IV secretion system typical of bacterial pathogens. These suggest a potential for interacting with neighboring cells and impacting the routing of organic matter into the microbial loop. Genes shared among the three roseobacters and also common in nine draft Roseobacter genomes include those for carbon monoxide oxidation, dimethylsulfoniopropionate demethylation, and aromatic compound degradation. Genes shared with other cultured marine bacteria include those for utilizing sodium gradients, transport and metabolism of sulfate, and osmoregulation.
authors.affiliation: Department of Marine Science, University of Georgia, Athens, GA 30602, USA. mmoran@uga.edu
authors.forename: M A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Moran
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Belas
authors.forename: M A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Schell
authors.forename: J M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: González
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Sun
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sun
authors.forename: B J
authors.initials: BJ
authors.lastname: Binder
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Edmonds
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Ye
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Orcutt
authors.forename: E C
authors.initials: EC
authors.lastname: Howard
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Meile
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Palefsky
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Goesmann
authors.forename: Q
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Ren
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Paulsen
authors.forename: L E
authors.initials: LE
authors.lastname: Ulrich
authors.forename: L S
authors.initials: LS
authors.lastname: Thompson
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Saunders
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Buchan
mesh_terms: D001692:Biological Transport / Q000235:genetics; D002244:Carbon / Q000378:metabolism; D002248:Carbon Monoxide / Q000378:metabolism; D004269:DNA, Bacterial / Q000235:genetics; D016680:Genome, Bacterial; D023281:Genomics; D006841:Hydrocarbons, Aromatic / Q000378:metabolism; D053858:Metabolic Networks and Pathways / Q000235:genetics; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D009584:Nitrogen / Q000378:metabolism; D010084:Oxidation-Reduction; D010758:Phosphorus / Q000378:metabolism; D010802:Phylogeny; D012336:RNA, Ribosomal, 16S / Q000235:genetics; D041904:Roseobacter / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D012623:Seawater / Q000382:microbiology*; D017422:Sequence Analysis, DNA; D013452:Sulfonium Compounds / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D004269:DNA, Bacterial; D006841:Hydrocarbons, Aromatic; D012336:RNA, Ribosomal, 16S; D013452:Sulfonium Compounds; D010758:Phosphorus; D002244:Carbon; D002248:Carbon Monoxide; C068078:dimethylpropiothetin; D009584:Nitrogen