Genetic variability of psychrotolerant Acidithiobacillus ferrivorans revealed by (meta)genomic analysis

González C; Yanquepe M; Cardenas, JP; Valdés J.; Quatrini, R; Holmes, DS; Dopson, M

Keywords: genome, copper resistance, Metagenome, heavy metal resistance, Mobilome, Cus

Abstract

Acidophilic microorganisms inhabit low pH environments such as acid mine drainage that is generated when sulfide minerals are exposed to air. The genome sequence of the psychrotolerant Acidithiobacillus ferrivorans SS3 was compared to a metagenome from a low temperature acidic stream dominated by an A. ferrivorans-like strain. Stretches of genomic DNA characterized by few matches to the metagenome, termed 'metagenomic islands', encoded genes associated with metal efflux and pH homeostasis. The metagenomic islands were enriched in mobile elements such as phage proteins, transposases, integrases and in one case, predicted to be flanked by truncated tRNAs. Cur gene clusters predicted to be involved in copper efflux and further Cus-like RND systems were predicted to be located in metagenomic islands and therefore, constitute part of the flexible gene complement of the species. Phylogenetic analysis of Cus clusters showed both lineage specificity within the Acidithiobacillus genus as well as niche specificity associated with an acidic environment. The metagenomic islands also contained a predicted copper efflux P-type ATPase system and a polyphosphate kinase potentially involved in polyphosphate mediated copper resistance. This study identifies genetic variability of low temperature acidophiles that likely reflects metal resistance selective pressures in the copper rich environment. (C) 2014 Institut Pasteur. Published by Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved.

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Título según WOS: Genetic variability of psychrotolerant Acidithiobacillus ferrivorans revealed by (meta)genomic analysis
Título según SCOPUS: Genetic variability of psychrotolerant Acidithiobacillus ferrivorans revealed by (meta)genomic analysis
Título de la Revista: RESEARCH IN MICROBIOLOGY
Volumen: 165
Número: 9
Editorial: Elsevier
Fecha de publicación: 2014
Página de inicio: 726
Página final: 734
Idioma: English
DOI:

10.1016/j.resmic.2014.08.005

Notas: ISI, SCOPUS