title: Physiological and comparative genomic analysis of Acidithiobacillus ferrivorans PQ33 provides psychrotolerant fitness evidence for oxidation at low temperature.
abstract: Friendly environmental hydrometallurgy at low temperatures is principally promoted by Acidithiobacillus ferrivorans. Until recently, the synergy between cold tolerance and the molecular mechanism of ferrous iron (Fe2+) oxidation was unknown. In the present paper, we conducted a physiological and comparative genomics analysis of the new strain A. ferrivorans PQ33 to elucidate the oxidation mechanism at low temperatures, with emphasis placed on trehalose and the Rus operon. PQ33 exhibited a doubling time of 66.6 h in Fe2+at pH 1.6 and 63.6 h in CuS at 5 °C. Genomic island (GI) identification and comparative genome analysis were performed with four available genomes of Acidithiobacillus sp. The genome comprised 3,298,172 bp and 56.55% GC content. In contrast to ATCC Acidithiobacillus ferrooxidans strains, the genome of A. ferrivorans PQ33 harbors one GI, which contains a RusB gene. Moreover, five genes of peptidyl-prolyl cis-trans isomerase (PPIases) were observed. Furthermore, comparative analysis of the trehalose operon suggested the presence of a horizontal transfer event. In addition, comparison of rusticyanin proteins revealed that RusB has better intrinsic flexibility than RusA. This comparison suggests psychrotolerant fitness and supports the genetic canalization of A. ferrivorans PQ33 for oxidation at low temperature.
authors.affiliation: Molecular Microbiology and Biotechnology Laboratory, Faculty of Biological Science, Universidad Nacional Mayor de San Marcos, Lima, Peru.
authors.forename: Robert
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Ccorahua-Santo
authors.affiliation: Molecular Microbiology and Biotechnology Laboratory, Faculty of Biological Science, Universidad Nacional Mayor de San Marcos, Lima, Peru.
authors.forename: Anika
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Eca
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Molecular Genetics of Microorganisms, Oswaldo Cruz Institute, Oswaldo Cruz Foundation, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
authors.forename: Michel
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Abanto
authors.affiliation: Molecular Microbiology and Biotechnology Laboratory, Faculty of Biological Science, Universidad Nacional Mayor de San Marcos, Lima, Peru.
authors.forename: Gregory
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Guerra
authors.affiliation: Molecular Microbiology and Biotechnology Laboratory, Faculty of Biological Science, Universidad Nacional Mayor de San Marcos, Lima, Peru. Electronic address: pramirezr@unmsm.edu.pe.
authors.forename: Pablo
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Ramírez
mesh_terms: D042763:Acidithiobacillus / Q000201:enzymology / Q000235:genetics* / Q000502:physiology*; D001482:Base Composition; D003080:Cold Temperature; D004269:DNA, Bacterial / Q000235:genetics; D005296:Ferrous Compounds / Q000378:metabolism*; D022761:Gene Transfer, Horizontal; D056084:Genetic Fitness; D016680:Genome, Bacterial; D044404:Genomic Islands; D023281:Genomics; D009876:Operon; D010084:Oxidation-Reduction; D019696:Peptidylprolyl Isomerase / Q000235:genetics; D010802:Phylogeny; D014199:Trehalose / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D004269:DNA, Bacterial; D005296:Ferrous Compounds; D014199:Trehalose; D019696:Peptidylprolyl Isomerase
keywords: Acidithiobacillus ferrivorans; Genomic island; Horizontal transfer; Protein flexibility; Rusticyanin