Genome Sequence of Azotobacter vinelandii , an Obligate Aerobe Specialized To Support Diverse Anaerobic Metabolic Processes

Azotobacter vinelandii is a soil bacterium related to the Pseudomonas genus that fixes nitrogen under aerobic conditions while simultaneously protecting nitrogenase from oxygen damage. In response to carbon availability, this organism undergoes a simple differentiation process to form cysts that are resistant to drought and other physical and chemical agents. Here we report the complete genome sequence of A. vinelandii DJ, which has a single circular genome of 5,365,318 bp. In order to reconcile an obligate aerobic lifestyle with exquisitely oxygen-sensitive processes, A. vinelandii is specialized in terms of its complement of respiratory proteins. It is able to produce alginate, a polymer that further protects the organism from excess exogenous oxygen, and it has multiple duplications of alginate modification genes, which may alter alginate composition in response to oxygen availability. The genome analysis identified the chromosomal locations of the genes coding for the three known oxygen-sensitive nitrogenases, as well as genes coding for other oxygen-sensitive enzymes, such as carbon monoxide dehydrogenase and formate dehydrogenase. These findings offer new prospects for the wider application of A. vinelandii as a host for the production and characterization of oxygen-sensitive proteins.Fil: Setubal, João C.. Virginia Polytechnic Institute; Estados UnidosFil: Dos Santos, Patricia Carolina. Wake Forest University; Estados Unidos. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Parque Centenario; ArgentinaFil: Goldman, Barry S.. Monsanto Company; Estados UnidosFil: Ertesvag, Helga. Norwegian University of Science and Technology; NoruegaFil: Espin, Guadelupe. Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México; MéxicoFil: Rubio, Luis M.. Instituto Imdea Energia; EspañaFil: Valla, Svein. Norwegian University of Science and Technology; NoruegaFil: Almeida, Nalvo F.. Virginia Polytechnic Institute; Estados Unidos. Universidade Federal do Mato Grosso do Sul; BrasilFil: Balasubramanian, Divya. Hiram College; Estados UnidosFil: Cromes, Lindsey. Hiram College; Estados UnidosFil: Curatti, Leonardo. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Parque Centenario; Argentina. Fundación para Investigaciones Biológicas Aplicadas. Centro de Estudios de Biodiversidad y Biotecnología; ArgentinaFil: Du, Zijin. Monsanto Company; Estados UnidosFil: Godsy, Eric. Monsanto Company; Estados UnidosFil: Goodner, Brad. Hiram College; Estados UnidosFil: Hellner Burris, Kaitlyn. Hiram College; Estados UnidosFil: Hernandez, José A.. Midwestern University; Estados UnidosFil: Houmiel, Katherine. Seattle Pacific University; Estados UnidosFil: Imperial, Juan. Centro de Biotecnologia y Genomica de Plantas; EspañaFil: Kennedy, Christina. University of Arizona; Estados UnidosFil: Larson, Timothy J.. Virginia Polytechnic Institute; Estados UnidosFil: Latreille, Phil. Monsanto Company; Estados UnidosFil: Ligon, Lauren S.. Virginia Polytechnic Institute; Estados UnidosFil: Lu, Jing. Monsanto Company; Estados UnidosFil: Mærk, Mali. Norwegian University of Science and Technology; NoruegaFil: Miller, Nancy M.. Monsanto Company; Estados UnidosFil: Norton, Stacie. Monsanto Company; Estados UnidosFil: O'Carroll, Ina P.. Virginia Polytechnic Institute; Estados UnidosFil: Paulsen, Ian. Macquarie University; AustraliaFil: Raulfs, Estella C.. Virginia Polytechnic Institute; Estados UnidosFil: Roemer, Rebecca. Hiram College; Estados Unido