Microbial Genome Sequencing Project - Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation

Microbial Genome Sequencing Project - Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation

Unnamed Verrucomicrobiae bacterium DG1235

Researcher(s):
Major Lineage: Verrucomicrobia
NCBI taxID: 382464
Genome Size (Mb): 5.0 Mb
G+C %: 54.3%
Number of Genes: 4903
Coding %: 85.5%
Isolation Method: Isolated from dinoflagellate cell surface; dilution plating on 1/10th strength 2216 agar + vitamins + trace elments. Growth 18ËšC / dark 8 weeks.
16S rRNA gene sequence:
Status: Released to GenBank
GenBank Accession Number: ABSI00000000
Primary Citation: N/A
Relevance: Why sequence a marine Verrucomicrobia?

The identification of bacteria from marine habitats has revealed bacterial genera with global distribution throughout the world's oceans, some of which have never, or are just starting, to be isolated in the laboratory. One such bacterial phylum, found with a widespread distribution in aquatic, terrestrial and intestinal tract environments, is the Verrucomicrobia. Sequences belonging to this phylum are commonly found in clone libraries from these environments, although cultured representatives are rare. It is apparent that members of the Verrucomicrobia are potentially globally important microbes in biogeochemical cycling, but due to their recalcitrance to culture, very little is known about their physiology, metabolism and ultimately their ecological role.

Currently there are only two characterised marine Verrucomicrobia strains, isolated from an intertidal thermophilic environment and the gut flora of an invertebrate. Despite their widespread distribution in the pelagic environment, very few members of the Verrucomicrobia have been cultured and none described as type strains. However, during a recent study on the bacterial microflora of the marine dinoflagellate Scrippseilla trochidea, we isolated a novel, aerobic cocci that constituted ca. 10% of the total cultivable bacterial community associated with this microalga. Ribosomal RNA gene sequence data indicated that isolate DG1235 was a deeply divergent member of the family Opitutaceae (subdivision 4) of the phylum Verrucomicrobia. We have also identified a subdivision 4 Verrucomicrobium with another dinoflagellate (GC21V-A; AY701416). DG1235 is proposed for whole-genome sequencing as it is one of very few cultivable pelagic Verrucomicrobia, and its relative dominance within the bacterial community associated with a pelagic microalgae could allude to a potential role in marine ecosystems. The genome analysis will allow a comprehensive investigation of the metabolic potential and involvement in biogeochemical cycling of this abundant, but underrepresented group of organisms in the marine environment.
Location Collected: Isolated in Scotland from a clonal Culture of the dinoflagellate Scrippsiella trochoidea. S. trochoidea was isolated in Plymouth harbour, United Kingdom.
Depth (m):
Latitude*: 50° 34' 12" N Convert to decimal 50.57 Convert to degrees
Longitude*: 4° 13' 48" W Convert to decimal -4.23 Convert to degrees
Location:
*In some cases, latitude and longitude are estimates based on information supplied by the researcher.
© 2010 Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation