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Insights into the Genome of Large Sulfur Bacteria Revealed by Analysis of Single Filaments
Journal article   Open access

Insights into the Genome of Large Sulfur Bacteria Revealed by Analysis of Single Filaments

Marc Mußmann, Fen Z Hu, Michael Richter, Dirk de Beer, André Preisler, Bo B Jørgensen, Marcel Huntemann, Frank Oliver Glöckner, Rudolf Amann, Werner J. H Koopman, …
PLoS biology, v 5(9), pp 1923-e230
Sep 2007
PMID: 17760503
url
https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pbio.0050230View
Published, Version of Record (VoR) Open

Abstract

Microbiology Eubacteria
Marine sediments are frequently covered by mats of the filamentous Beggiatoa and other large nitrate-storing bacteria that oxidize hydrogen sulfide using either oxygen or nitrate, which they store in intracellular vacuoles. Despite their conspicuous metabolic properties and their biogeochemical importance, little is known about their genetic repertoire because of the lack of pure cultures. Here, we present a unique approach to access the genome of single filaments of Beggiatoa by combining whole genome amplification, pyrosequencing, and optical genome mapping. Sequence assemblies were incomplete and yielded average contig sizes of approximately 1 kb. Pathways for sulfur oxidation, nitrate and oxygen respiration, and CO 2 fixation confirm the chemolithoautotrophic physiology of Beggiatoa . In addition, Beggiatoa potentially utilize inorganic sulfur compounds and dimethyl sulfoxide as electron acceptors. We propose a mechanism of vacuolar nitrate accumulation that is linked to proton translocation by vacuolar-type ATPases. Comparative genomics indicates substantial horizontal gene transfer of storage, metabolic, and gliding capabilities between Beggiatoa and cyanobacteria. These capabilities enable Beggiatoa to overcome non-overlapping availabilities of electron donors and acceptors while gliding between oxic and sulfidic zones. The first look into the genome of these filamentous sulfur-oxidizing bacteria substantially deepens the understanding of their evolution and their contribution to sulfur and nitrogen cycling in marine sediments. Examining the genome of single filaments of Beggiatoa deepens our understanding of their contribution to sulfur and nitrogen cycling in marine sediments.

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Domestic collaboration
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Web of Science research areas
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Biology
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