title: Sequencing of seven haloarchaeal genomes reveals patterns of genomic flux.
abstract: We report the sequencing of seven genomes from two haloarchaeal genera, Haloferax and Haloarcula. Ease of cultivation and the existence of well-developed genetic and biochemical tools for several diverse haloarchaeal species make haloarchaea a model group for the study of archaeal biology. The unique physiological properties of these organisms also make them good candidates for novel enzyme discovery for biotechnological applications. Seven genomes were sequenced to ∼20×coverage and assembled to an average of 50 contigs (range 5 scaffolds-168 contigs). Comparisons of protein-coding gene compliments revealed large-scale differences in COG functional group enrichment between these genera. Analysis of genes encoding machinery for DNA metabolism reveals genera-specific expansions of the general transcription factor TATA binding protein as well as a history of extensive duplication and horizontal transfer of the proliferating cell nuclear antigen. Insights gained from this study emphasize the importance of haloarchaea for investigation of archaeal biology.
authors: Microbiology Graduate Group, University of California Davis, Davis, California, United States of America.
authors: Erin A
authors: EA
authors: Lynch
authors: Morgan G I
authors: MG
authors: Langille
authors: Aaron
authors: A
authors: Darling
authors: Elizabeth G
authors: EG
authors: Wilbanks
authors: Caitlin
authors: C
authors: Haltiner
authors: Katie S Y
authors: KS
authors: Shao
authors: Michael O
authors: MO
authors: Starr
authors: Clotilde
authors: C
authors: Teiling
authors: Timothy T
authors: TT
authors: Harkins
authors: Robert A
authors: RA
authors: Edwards
authors: Jonathan A
authors: JA
authors: Eisen
authors: Marc T
authors: MT
authors: Facciotti
mesh_terms: D019641:DNA, Archaeal / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D051456:Gene Flow; D020745:Genome, Archaeal / Q000502:physiology*; D019613:Haloarcula / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D019621:Haloferax / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D017422:Sequence Analysis, DNA
chemical_list: D019641:DNA, Archaeal