title: Genomic analysis reveals key aspects of prokaryotic symbiosis in the phototrophic consortium "Chlorochromatium aggregatum".
abstract: BACKGROUND
  'Chlorochromatium aggregatum' is a phototrophic consortium, a symbiosis that may represent the highest degree of mutual interdependence between two unrelated bacteria not associated with a eukaryotic host. 'Chlorochromatium aggregatum' is a motile, barrel-shaped aggregate formed from a single cell of 'Candidatus Symbiobacter mobilis", a polarly flagellated, non-pigmented, heterotrophic bacterium, which is surrounded by approximately 15 epibiont cells of Chlorobium chlorochromatii, a non-motile photolithoautotrophic green sulfur bacterium.
  
  
  RESULTS
  We analyzed the complete genome sequences of both organisms to understand the basis for this symbiosis. Chl. chlorochromatii has acquired relatively few symbiosis-specific genes; most acquired genes are predicted to modify the cell wall or function in cell-cell adhesion. In striking contrast, 'Ca. S. mobilis' appears to have undergone massive gene loss, is probably no longer capable of independent growth, and thus may only reproduce when consortia divide. A detailed model for the energetic and metabolic bases of the dependency of 'Ca. S. mobilis' on Chl. chlorochromatii is described.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Genomic analyses suggest that three types of interactions lead to a highly sophisticated relationship between these two organisms. Firstly, extensive metabolic exchange, involving carbon, nitrogen, and sulfur sources as well as vitamins, occurs from the epibiont to the central bacterium. Secondly, 'Ca. S. mobilis' can sense and move towards light and sulfide, resources that only directly benefit the epibiont. Thirdly, electron cycling mechanisms, particularly those mediated by quinones and potentially involving shared protonmotive force, could provide an important basis for energy exchange in this and other symbiotic relationships.
authors.forename: Zhenfeng
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Johannes
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Müller
authors.forename: Tao
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Richard M
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Alvey
authors.forename: Kajetan
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Vogl
authors.forename: Niels-Ulrik
authors.initials: NU
authors.lastname: Frigaard
authors.forename: Nathan C
authors.initials: NC
authors.lastname: Rockwell
authors.forename: Eric S
authors.initials: ES
authors.lastname: Boyd
authors.forename: Lynn P
authors.initials: LP
authors.lastname: Tomsho
authors.forename: Stephan C
authors.initials: SC
authors.lastname: Schuster
authors.forename: Petra
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Henke
authors.forename: Manfred
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Rohde
authors.forename: Jörg
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Overmann
authors.forename: Donald A
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Bryant
mesh_terms: D001419:Bacteria / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics*; D004269:DNA, Bacterial / Q000235:genetics; D022761:Gene Transfer, Horizontal; D016680:Genome, Bacterial; D023281:Genomics; D059013:Microbial Consortia / Q000235:genetics*; D010802:Phylogeny; D012336:RNA, Ribosomal, 16S / Q000235:genetics; D017422:Sequence Analysis, DNA; D013559:Symbiosis / Q000235:genetics*
chemical_list: D004269:DNA, Bacterial; D012336:RNA, Ribosomal, 16S