Nature Biotechnology
- 24, 997 - 1004 (2006)
Published online: 30 July 2006; | doi:10.1038/nbt1232
Genome sequence of the ubiquitous hydrocarbon-degrading marine bacterium Alcanivorax borkumensisSusanne Schneiker1, 3, 8, Vítor AP Martins dos Santos2, 8, Daniela Bartels3, Thomas Bekel3, Martina Brecht1, 3, Jens Buhrmester1, Tatyana N Chernikova2, 4, Renata Denaro5, Manuel Ferrer2, 7, Christoph Gertler2, 4, Alexander Goesmann3, Olga V Golyshina2, 4, Filip Kaminski2, Amit N Khachane2, Siegmund Lang6, Burkhard Linke3, Alice C McHardy3, 7, Folker Meyer3, Taras Nechitaylo2, 4, Alfred Pühler1, 3, Daniela Regenhardt2, 7, Oliver Rupp3, Julia S Sabirova2, 4, Werner Selbitschka1, 3, Michail M Yakimov2, 5, Kenneth N Timmis2, 4, Frank-Jörg Vorhölter1, 3, Stefan Weidner1, 3, Olaf Kaiser1, 3, 8 & Peter N Golyshin2, 81
Lehrstuhl für Genetik, Fakultät für Biologie, Universität Bielefeld, D-33594 Bielefeld, Germany. 2
Division of Microbiology, German Research Center for Biotechnology, D-38124 Braunschweig, Germany. 3
Center for Biotechnology (CeBiTec), Universität Bielefeld, D-33594 Bielefeld, Germany. 4
Institute for Microbiology, Technical University of Braunschweig, D-38106 Braunschweig, Germany. 5
Istituto per l'Ambiente Marino Costiero (CNR), I-98122 Messina, Italy. 6
Institute of Biochemistry and Biotechnology, Technical University of Braunschweig, D-38106 Braunschweig, Germany. 7
Present adresses: Institute of Catalysis, Campus UAM, E-28049 Madrid, Spain (M.F.), Bioinformatics & Pattern Discovery Group, IBM Thomas J Watson Research Center, Yorktown Heights, New York 10598. USA (A.C.McH.), Division Biogeochemistry, Research Centre Rossendorf, D-01314 Dresden, Germany (D.R.). 8
These authors contributed equally to this work.
Correspondence should be addressed to Vítor AP Martins dos Santos vds@gbf.de
Alcanivorax borkumensis is a cosmopolitan marine bacterium that uses oil hydrocarbons as its exclusive source of carbon and energy. Although barely detectable in unpolluted environments, A. borkumensis becomes the dominant microbe in oil-polluted waters. A. borkumensis SK2 has a streamlined genome with a paucity of mobile genetic elements and energy generation–related genes, but with a plethora of genes accounting for its wide hydrocarbon substrate range and efficient oil-degradation capabilities. The genome further specifies systems for scavenging of nutrients, particularly organic and inorganic nitrogen and oligo-elements, biofilm formation at the oil-water interface, biosurfactant production and niche-specific stress responses. The unique combination of these features provides A. borkumensis SK2 with a competitive edge in oil-polluted environments. This genome sequence provides the basis for the future design of strategies to mitigate the ecological damage caused by oil spills.
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