title: Permanent draft genome of strain ESFC-1: ecological genomics of a newly discovered lineage of filamentous diazotrophic cyanobacteria.
abstract: The nonheterocystous filamentous cyanobacterium, strain ESFC-1, is a recently described member of the order Oscillatoriales within the Cyanobacteria. ESFC-1 has been shown to be a major diazotroph in the intertidal microbial mat system at Elkhorn Slough, CA, USA. Based on phylogenetic analyses of the 16S RNA gene, ESFC-1 appears to belong to a unique, genus-level divergence; the draft genome sequence of this strain has now been determined. Here we report features of this genome as they relate to the ecological functions and capabilities of strain ESFC-1. The 5,632,035 bp genome sequence encodes 4914 protein-coding genes and 92 RNA genes. One striking feature of this cyanobacterium is the apparent lack of either uptake or bi-directional hydrogenases typically expected within a diazotroph. Additionally, a large genomic island is found that contains numerous low GC-content genes and genes related to extracellular polysaccharide production and cell wall synthesis and maintenance.
authors: Exobiology Branch, NASA Ames Research Center, Moffett Field, CA USA ; Bay Area Environmental Research Institute, Petaluma, CA USA.
authors: R Craig
authors: RC
authors: Everroad
authors: Physical and Life Sciences Directorate, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, Livermore, CA USA.
authors: Rhona K
authors: RK
authors: Stuart
authors: Exobiology Branch, NASA Ames Research Center, Moffett Field, CA USA.
authors: Brad M
authors: BM
authors: Bebout
authors: Exobiology Branch, NASA Ames Research Center, Moffett Field, CA USA ; Bay Area Environmental Research Institute, Petaluma, CA USA.
authors: Angela M
authors: AM
authors: Detweiler
authors: Exobiology Branch, NASA Ames Research Center, Moffett Field, CA USA ; Bay Area Environmental Research Institute, Petaluma, CA USA.
authors: Jackson Z
authors: JZ
authors: Lee
authors: Exobiology Branch, NASA Ames Research Center, Moffett Field, CA USA ; Current address: Division of Microbial Ecology, Department of Microbiology and Ecosystem Science, Research Network "Chemistry meets Microbiology", University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria.
authors: Dagmar
authors: D
authors: Woebken
authors: Exobiology Branch, NASA Ames Research Center, Moffett Field, CA USA.
authors: Leslie
authors: L
authors: Prufert-Bebout
authors: Physical and Life Sciences Directorate, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, Livermore, CA USA.
authors: Jennifer
authors: J
authors: Pett-Ridge
keywords: Cyanobacteria; Hydrogenase; Intertidal microbial mat; Nitrogen fixation