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.
Instituto de Bioquímica Médica, UFRJ, CCS, Bloco D, subssolo 21491-590 Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. bertalan@cbs.dtu.dk
Marcelo
M
Bertalan
Rodolpho
R
Albano
Vânia
V
de Pádua
Luc
L
Rouws
Cristian
C
Rojas
Adriana
A
Hemerly
Kátia
K
Teixeira
Stefan
S
Schwab
Jean
J
Araujo
André
A
Oliveira
Leonardo
L
França
Viviane
V
Magalhães
Sylvia
S
Alquéres
Alexander
A
Cardoso
Wellington
W
Almeida
Marcio Martins
MM
Loureiro
Eduardo
E
Nogueira
Daniela
D
Cidade
Denise
D
Oliveira
Tatiana
T
Simão
Jacyara
J
Macedo
Ana
A
Valadão
Marcela
M
Dreschsel
Flávia
F
Freitas
Marcia
M
Vidal
Helma
H
Guedes
Elisete
E
Rodrigues
Carlos
C
Meneses
Paulo
P
Brioso
Luciana
L
Pozzer
Daniel
D
Figueiredo
Helena
H
Montano
Jadier
J
Junior
Gonçalo
G
de Souza Filho
Victor
V
Martin Quintana Flores
Beatriz
B
Ferreira
Alan
A
Branco
Paula
P
Gonzalez
Heloisa
H
Guillobel
Melissa
M
Lemos
Luiz
L
Seibel
José
J
Macedo
Marcio
M
Alves-Ferreira
Gilberto
G
Sachetto-Martins
Ana
A
Coelho
Eidy
E
Santos
Gilda
G
Amaral
Anna
A
Neves
Ana Beatriz
AB
Pacheco
Daniela
D
Carvalho
Letícia
L
Lery
Paulo
P
Bisch
Shaila C
SC
Rössle
Turán
T
Urményi
Alessandra
A
Rael Pereira
Rosane
R
Silva
Edson
E
Rondinelli
Wanda
W
von Krüger
Orlando
O
Martins
José Ivo
JI
Baldani
Paulo C G
PC
Ferreira
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