Complete genome sequence of the sugarcane nitrogen-fixing endophyte Gluconacetobacter diazotrophicus Pal5.
BACKGROUND
Gluconacetobacter diazotrophicus Pal5 is an endophytic diazotrophic bacterium that lives in association with sugarcane plants. It has important biotechnological features such as nitrogen fixation, plant growth promotion, sugar metabolism pathways, secretion of organic acids, synthesis of auxin and the occurrence of bacteriocins.


RESULTS
Gluconacetobacter diazotrophicus Pal5 is the third diazotrophic endophytic bacterium to be completely sequenced. Its genome is composed of a 3.9 Mb chromosome and 2 plasmids of 16.6 and 38.8 kb, respectively. We annotated 3,938 coding sequences which reveal several characteristics related to the endophytic lifestyle such as nitrogen fixation, plant growth promotion, sugar metabolism, transport systems, synthesis of auxin and the occurrence of bacteriocins. Genomic analysis identified a core component of 894 genes shared with phylogenetically related bacteria. Gene clusters for gum-like polysaccharide biosynthesis, tad pilus, quorum sensing, for modulation of plant growth by indole acetic acid and mechanisms involved in tolerance to acidic conditions were identified and may be related to the sugarcane endophytic and plant-growth promoting traits of G. diazotrophicus. An accessory component of at least 851 genes distributed in genome islands was identified, and was most likely acquired by horizontal gene transfer. This portion of the genome has likely contributed to adaptation to the plant habitat.


CONCLUSIONS
The genome data offer an important resource of information that can be used to manipulate plant/bacterium interactions with the aim of improving sugarcane crop production and other biotechnological applications.
Bertalan
Marcelo
M
Instituto de Bioquímica Médica, UFRJ, CCS, Bloco D, subssolo 21491-590 Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. bertalan@cbs.dtu.dk
Albano
Rodolpho
R
de Pádua
Vânia
V
Rouws
Luc
L
Rojas
Cristian
C
Hemerly
Adriana
A
Teixeira
Kátia
K
Schwab
Stefan
S
Araujo
Jean
J
Oliveira
André
A
França
Leonardo
L
Magalhães
Viviane
V
Alquéres
Sylvia
S
Cardoso
Alexander
A
Almeida
Wellington
W
Loureiro
Marcio Martins
MM
Nogueira
Eduardo
E
Cidade
Daniela
D
Oliveira
Denise
D
Simão
Tatiana
T
Macedo
Jacyara
J
Valadão
Ana
A
Dreschsel
Marcela
M
Freitas
Flávia
F
Vidal
Marcia
M
Guedes
Helma
H
Rodrigues
Elisete
E
Meneses
Carlos
C
Brioso
Paulo
P
Pozzer
Luciana
L
Figueiredo
Daniel
D
Montano
Helena
H
Junior
Jadier
J
de Souza Filho
Gonçalo
G
Martin Quintana Flores
Victor
V
Ferreira
Beatriz
B
Branco
Alan
A
Gonzalez
Paula
P
Guillobel
Heloisa
H
Lemos
Melissa
M
Seibel
Luiz
L
Macedo
José
J
Alves-Ferreira
Marcio
M
Sachetto-Martins
Gilberto
G
Coelho
Ana
A
Santos
Eidy
E
Amaral
Gilda
G
Neves
Anna
A
Pacheco
Ana Beatriz
AB
Carvalho
Daniela
D
Lery
Letícia
L
Bisch
Paulo
P
Rössle
Shaila C
SC
Urményi
Turán
T
Rael Pereira
Alessandra
A
Silva
Rosane
R
Rondinelli
Edson
E
von Krüger
Wanda
W
Martins
Orlando
O
Baldani
José Ivo
JI
Ferreira
Paulo C G
PC
D055028:Comparative Genomic Hybridization; D004269:DNA, Bacterial / Q000235:genetics; D016680:Genome, Bacterial; D044404:Genomic Islands; D015698:Genomic Library; D041821:Gluconacetobacter / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D009586:Nitrogen Fixation / Q000235:genetics; D031786:Saccharum / Q000382:microbiology*; D017422:Sequence Analysis, DNA; D013559:Symbiosis
D004269:DNA, Bacterial