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Genomic Insights into Methanotrophy: The Complete Genome Sequence of Methylococcus capsulatus (Bath)

Journal Article · · PLoS Biology (Online)
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  1. The Inst. for Genomic Research, Rockville, MD (United States); Center of Marine Biotechnology, Baltimore, MD (United States); DOE/OSTI
  2. University of Bergen (Norway). Dept. of Biology
  3. The Inst. for Genomic Research, Rockville, MD (United States)
  4. University of Bergen (Norway). Dept. of Molecular Biology
  5. The Inst. for Genomic Research, Rockville, MD (United States); Johns Hopkins Univ., Baltimore, MD (United States). Dept. of Biology
  6. The Inst. for Genomic Research, Rockville, MD (United States); Johns Hopkins Univ., Baltimore, MD (United States). Dept. of Computer Science
  7. University of Bergen (Norway). Dept. of Informatics
  8. National Institutes of Health (NIH), Bethesda, MD (United States). National Human Genome Research Inst.
  9. The Inst. for Genomic Research, Rockville, MD (United States); George Washington University Medical Center, Washington, DC (United States)
Methanotrophs are ubiquitous bacteria that can use the greenhouse gas methane as a sole carbon and energy source for growth, thus playing major roles in global carbon cycles, and in particular, substantially reducing emissions of biologically generated methane to the atmosphere. Despite their importance, and in contrast to organisms that play roles in other major parts of the carbon cycle such as photosynthesis, no genome-level studies have been published on the biology of methanotrophs. We report the first complete genome sequence to our knowledge from an obligate methanotroph, Methylococcus capsulatus (Bath), obtained by the shotgun sequencing approach. Analysis revealed a 3.3-Mb genome highly specialized for a methanotrophic lifestyle, including redundant pathways predicted to be involved in methanotrophy and duplicated genes for essential enzymes such as the methane monooxygenases. We used phylogenomic analysis, gene order information, and comparative analysis with the partially sequenced methylotroph Methylobacterium extorquens to detect genes of unknown function likely to be involved in methanotrophy and methylotrophy. Genome analysis suggests the ability of M. capsulatus to scavenge copper (including a previously unreported nonribosomal peptide synthetase) and to use copper in regulation of methanotrophy, but the exact regulatory mechanisms remain unclear. One of the most surprising outcomes of the project is evidence suggesting the existence of previously unsuspected metabolic flexibility in M. capsulatus, including an ability to grow on sugars, oxidize chemolithotrophic hydrogen and sulfur, and live under reduced oxygen tension, all of which have implications for methanotroph ecology. The availability of the complete genome of M. capsulatus (Bath) deepens our understanding of methanotroph biology and its relationship to global carbon cycles. We have gained evidence for greater metabolic flexibility than was previously known, and for genetic components that may have biotechnological potential.
Research Organization:
The Institute for Genomic Research, Rockville, MD (United States)
Sponsoring Organization:
Meltzer Foundation; Research Council of Norway; USDOE Office of Science (SC), Biological and Environmental Research (BER). Biological Systems Science Division; University of Bergen Research Foundation
Grant/Contract Number:
FC02-95ER61962
OSTI ID:
1627131
Journal Information:
PLoS Biology (Online), Journal Name: PLoS Biology (Online) Journal Issue: 10 Vol. 2; ISSN 1545-7885
Publisher:
Public Library of ScienceCopyright Statement
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English

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