Genome Sequence of Hydrothermal Arsenic-Respiring Bacterium Marinobacter santoriniensis NKSG1 ^T

Abstract

Marinobacter santoriniensis NKSG1T originates from metalliferous marine sediment. It can respire and redox cycle arsenic species and perform mixotrophic, nitrate-dependent Fe(II) oxidation. The genome sequence, reported here, will help further elucidate the genetic mechanisms underlying these and other potential biogeochemically relevant functions, such as arsenic and mercury resistance and hydrocarbon degradation.

Biogeochemical implications of the ubiquitous colonization of marine habitats and redox gradients by Marinobacter species

“…This metabolic trait remains to be demonstrated in definitively anexic cultures. M. santoriniensis has the genetic potential to reductively detoxify arsenate and mercury using proteins encoded by an Escherichia coli -like arsC and merRTA genes (Handley et al, 2013c), in addition to being able to conserve energy for growth via arsenate [As(V)] respiration using an unidentified mechanism, and mixotrophically oxidize arsenite [As(III)] using the aro gene cluster—making it one of a handful of bacteria currently known to completely redox-cycle arsenic (Handley et al, 2009b). This is particularly relevant given that the bacterium was isolated from sediment containing ~400 ppm of arsenic.…”