title: The genome sequence of Desulfatibacillum alkenivorans AK-01: a blueprint for anaerobic alkane oxidation.
abstract: Desulfatibacillum alkenivorans AK-01 serves as a model organism for anaerobic alkane biodegradation because of its distinctive biochemistry and metabolic versatility. The D. alkenivorans genome provides a blueprint for understanding the genetic systems involved in alkane metabolism including substrate activation, CoA ligation, carbon-skeleton rearrangement and decarboxylation. Genomic analysis suggested a route to regenerate the fumarate needed for alkane activation via methylmalonyl-CoA and predicted the capability for syntrophic alkane metabolism, which was experimentally verified. Pathways involved in the oxidation of alkanes, alcohols, organic acids and n-saturated fatty acids coupled to sulfate reduction and the ability to grow chemolithoautotrophically were predicted. A complement of genes for motility and oxygen detoxification suggests that D. alkenivorans may be physiologically adapted to a wide range of environmental conditions. The D. alkenivorans genome serves as a platform for further study of anaerobic, hydrocarbon-oxidizing microorganisms and their roles in bioremediation, energy recovery and global carbon cycling.
authors.affiliation: Department of Botany and Microbiology, University of Oklahoma, 770 Van Vleet Oval, Norman, OK 73019-4110, USA. acallaghan@ou.edu
authors.forename: A V
authors.initials: AV
authors.lastname: Callaghan
authors.forename: B E L
authors.initials: BE
authors.lastname: Morris
authors.forename: I A C
authors.initials: IA
authors.lastname: Pereira
authors.forename: M J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: McInerney
authors.forename: R N
authors.initials: RN
authors.lastname: Austin
authors.forename: J T
authors.initials: JT
authors.lastname: Groves
authors.forename: J J
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Kukor
authors.forename: J M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Suflita
authors.forename: L Y
authors.initials: LY
authors.lastname: Young
authors.forename: G J
authors.initials: GJ
authors.lastname: Zylstra
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Wawrik
mesh_terms: D000143:Acids / Q000378:metabolism; D000438:Alcohols / Q000378:metabolism; D000473:Alkanes / Q000378:metabolism*; D000693:Anaerobiosis; D001673:Biodegradation, Environmental; D052837:Chemoautotrophic Growth; D004269:DNA, Bacterial / Q000235:genetics; D020564:Deltaproteobacteria / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D016680:Genome, Bacterial; D055442:Metabolome; D058977:Molecular Sequence Annotation; D010084:Oxidation-Reduction; D013431:Sulfates / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D000143:Acids; D000438:Alcohols; D000473:Alkanes; D004269:DNA, Bacterial; D013431:Sulfates