Genome sequence of Desulfobacterium autotrophicum HRM2, a marine sulfate reducer oxidizing organic carbon completely to carbon dioxide.
Sulfate-reducing bacteria (SRB) belonging to the metabolically versatile Desulfobacteriaceae are abundant in marine sediments and contribute to the global carbon cycle by complete oxidation of organic compounds. Desulfobacterium autotrophicum HRM2 is the first member of this ecophysiologically important group with a now available genome sequence. With 5.6 megabasepairs (Mbp) the genome of Db. autotrophicum HRM2 is about 2 Mbp larger than the sequenced genomes of other sulfate reducers (SRB). A high number of genome plasticity elements (> 100 transposon-related genes), several regions of GC discontinuity and a high number of repetitive elements (132 paralogous genes Mbp(-1)) point to a different genome evolution when comparing with Desulfovibrio spp. The metabolic versatility of Db. autotrophicum HRM2 is reflected in the presence of genes for the degradation of a variety of organic compounds including long-chain fatty acids and for the Wood-Ljungdahl pathway, which enables the organism to completely oxidize acetyl-CoA to CO(2) but also to grow chemolithoautotrophically. The presence of more than 250 proteins of the sensory/regulatory protein families should enable Db. autotrophicum HRM2 to efficiently adapt to changing environmental conditions. Genes encoding periplasmic or cytoplasmic hydrogenases and formate dehydrogenases have been detected as well as genes for the transmembrane TpII-c(3), Hme and Rnf complexes. Genes for subunits A, B, C and D as well as for the proposed novel subunits L and F of the heterodisulfide reductases are present. This enzyme is involved in energy conservation in methanoarchaea and it is speculated that it exhibits a similar function in the process of dissimilatory sulfate reduction in Db. autotrophicum HRM2.
Strittmatter
Axel W
AW
Göttingen Genomics Laboratory, Georg-August-University, Göttingen, Germany. astritt@gwdg.de
Liesegang
Heiko
H
Rabus
Ralf
R
Decker
Iwona
I
Amann
Judith
J
Andres
Sönke
S
Henne
Anke
A
Fricke
Wolfgang Florian
WF
Martinez-Arias
Rosa
R
Bartels
Daniela
D
Goesmann
Alexander
A
Krause
Lutz
L
Pühler
Alfred
A
Klenk
Hans-Peter
HP
Richter
Michael
M
Schüler
Margarete
M
Glöckner
Frank Oliver
FO
Meyerdierks
Anke
A
Gottschalk
Gerhard
G
Amann
Rudolf
R
D000105:Acetyl Coenzyme A / Q000378:metabolism; D002245:Carbon Dioxide / Q000378:metabolism*; D004269:DNA, Bacterial / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics*; D020564:Deltaproteobacteria / Q000235:genetics*; D016680:Genome, Bacterial; D019015:Geologic Sediments / Q000382:microbiology; D020071:Interspersed Repetitive Sequences; D053858:Metabolic Networks and Pathways / Q000235:genetics; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D009930:Organic Chemicals / Q000378:metabolism*; D010084:Oxidation-Reduction; D017422:Sequence Analysis, DNA; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000235:genetics; D013431:Sulfates / Q000378:metabolism
D004269:DNA, Bacterial; D009930:Organic Chemicals; D013431:Sulfates; D002245:Carbon Dioxide; D000105:Acetyl Coenzyme A