title: Genomic analysis reveals the biotechnological and industrial potential of levan producing halophilic extremophile, Halomonas smyrnensis AAD6T.
abstract: Halomonas smyrnensis AAD6T is a gram negative, aerobic, and moderately halophilic bacterium, and is known to produce high levels of levan with many potential uses in foods, feeds, cosmetics, pharmaceutical and chemical industries due to its outstanding properties. Here, the whole-genome analysis was performed to gain more insight about the biological mechanisms, and the whole-genome organization of the bacterium. Industrially crucial genes, including the levansucrase, were detected and the genome-scale metabolic model of H. smyrnensis AAD6T was reconstructed. The bacterium was found to have many potential applications in biotechnology not only being a levan producer, but also because of its capacity to produce Pel exopolysaccharide, polyhydroxyalkanoates, and osmoprotectants. The genomic information presented here will not only provide additional information to enhance our understanding of the genetic and metabolic network of halophilic bacteria, but also accelerate the research on systematical design of engineering strategies for biotechnology applications.
authors.affiliation: Department of Bioengineering, Marmara University, Goztepe, 34722 Istanbul, Turkey.
authors.forename: Elif
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Diken
authors.affiliation: Department of Bioengineering, Marmara University, Goztepe, 34722 Istanbul, Turkey.
authors.forename: Tugba
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Ozer
authors.affiliation: Department of Genetics, Institute for Experimental Medicine, Istanbul University, Capa, 34093 Istanbul, Turkey.
authors.forename: Muzaffer
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Arikan
authors.affiliation: Department of Genetics, Institute for Experimental Medicine, Istanbul University, Capa, 34093 Istanbul, Turkey.
authors.forename: Zeliha
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Emrence
authors.affiliation: Department of Bioengineering, Marmara University, Goztepe, 34722 Istanbul, Turkey.
authors.forename: Ebru Toksoy
authors.initials: ET
authors.lastname: Oner
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Genetics, School of Medicine, REMER, Medipol University, 34810 Istanbul, Turkey.
authors.forename: Duran
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Ustek
authors.affiliation: Department of Bioengineering, Marmara University, Goztepe, 34722 Istanbul, Turkey.
authors.forename: Kazim Yalcin
authors.initials: KY
authors.lastname: Arga
keywords: Genome; Halomonas smyrnensis; Halophiles; Levan; Next-generation sequencing