Genome of the epsilonproteobacterial chemolithoautotroph Sulfurimonas denitrificans.
Sulfur-oxidizing epsilonproteobacteria are common in a variety of sulfidogenic environments. These autotrophic and mixotrophic sulfur-oxidizing bacteria are believed to contribute substantially to the oxidative portion of the global sulfur cycle. In order to better understand the ecology and roles of sulfur-oxidizing epsilonproteobacteria, in particular those of the widespread genus Sulfurimonas, in biogeochemical cycles, the genome of Sulfurimonas denitrificans DSM1251 was sequenced. This genome has many features, including a larger size (2.2 Mbp), that suggest a greater degree of metabolic versatility or responsiveness to the environment than seen for most of the other sequenced epsilonproteobacteria. A branched electron transport chain is apparent, with genes encoding complexes for the oxidation of hydrogen, reduced sulfur compounds, and formate and the reduction of nitrate and oxygen. Genes are present for a complete, autotrophic reductive citric acid cycle. Many genes are present that could facilitate growth in the spatially and temporally heterogeneous sediment habitat from where Sulfurimonas denitrificans was originally isolated. Many resistance-nodulation-development family transporter genes (10 total) are present; of these, several are predicted to encode heavy metal efflux transporters. An elaborate arsenal of sensory and regulatory protein-encoding genes is in place, as are genes necessary to prevent and respond to oxidative stress.
Biology Department, Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, Woods Hole, Massachusetts 02543, USA. ssievert@whoi.edu
Stefan M
SM
Sievert
Kathleen M
KM
Scott
Martin G
MG
Klotz
Patrick S G
PS
Chain
Loren J
LJ
Hauser
James
J
Hemp
Michael
M
Hügler
Miriam
M
Land
Alla
A
Lapidus
Frank W
FW
Larimer
Susan
S
Lucas
Stephanie A
SA
Malfatti
Folker
F
Meyer
Ian T
IT
Paulsen
Qinghu
Q
Ren
Jörg
J
Simon
D001483:Base Sequence; D002244:Carbon / Q000378:metabolism; D002262:Carboxy-Lyases / Q000235:genetics; D052837:Chemoautotrophic Growth; D002633:Chemotaxis / Q000235:genetics; D002874:Chromosome Mapping; D019295:Computational Biology; D004579:Electron Transport / Q000502:physiology; D020565:Epsilonproteobacteria / Q000235:genetics*; D016680:Genome, Bacterial; D008954:Models, Biological; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D009584:Nitrogen / Q000378:metabolism; D018384:Oxidative Stress / Q000235:genetics; D010802:Phylogeny; D017422:Sequence Analysis, DNA; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000235:genetics*
D002244:Carbon; D002262:Carboxy-Lyases; D009584:Nitrogen