The genome analysis of Oleiphilus messinensis ME102 (DSM 13489 T) reveals backgrounds of its obligate alkane-devouring marine lifestyle

摘要

AbstractMarine bacteriumOleiphilus messinensisME102 (DSM 13489T) isolated from the sediments of the harbor of Messina (Italy) is a member of the orderOceanospirillales, classGammaproteobacteria, representing the physiological group of marine obligate hydrocarbonoclastic bacteria (OHCB) alongside the members of the generaAlcanivorax,Oleispira,Thalassolituus,CycloclasticusandNeptunomonas. These organisms play a crucial role in the natural environmental cleanup in marine systems. Despite having the largest genome (6.379.281bp) among OHCB,O. messinensisexhibits a very narrow substrate profile. The alkane metabolism is pre-determined by three loci encoding for two P450 family monooxygenases, one of which formed a cassette with ferredoxin and alcohol dehydrogenase encoding genes and alkane monoxygenase (AlkB) gene clustered with two genes for rubredoxins and NAD+-dependent rubredoxin reductase. Its genome contains the largest numbers of genomic islands (15) and mobile genetic elements (140), as compared with more streamlined genomes of its OHCB counterparts. Among hydrocarbon-degradingOceanospirillales,O. messinensisencodes the largest array of proteins involved in the signal transduction for sensing and responding to the environmental stimuli (345vs170 inOleispira antarctica, the bacterium with the second highest number). This must b