Ecotype diversity and conversion in Photobacterium profundum strains

PLoS One. 2014 May 13;9(5):e96953. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0096953. eCollection 2014.

Abstract

Photobacterium profundum is a cosmopolitan marine bacterium capable of growth at low temperature and high hydrostatic pressure. Multiple strains of P. profundum have been isolated from different depths of the ocean and display remarkable differences in their physiological responses to pressure. The genome sequence of the deep-sea piezopsychrophilic strain Photobacterium profundum SS9 has provided some clues regarding the genetic features required for growth in the deep sea. The sequenced genome of Photobacterium profundum strain 3TCK, a non-piezophilic strain isolated from a shallow-water environment, is now available and its analysis expands the identification of unique genomic features that correlate to environmental differences and define the Hutchinsonian niche of each strain. These differences range from variations in gene content to specific gene sequences under positive selection. Genome plasticity between Photobacterium bathytypes was investigated when strain 3TCK-specific genes involved in photorepair were introduced to SS9, demonstrating that horizontal gene transfer can provide a mechanism for rapid colonisation of new environments.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Ecotype*
  • Gene Expression Regulation, Bacterial*
  • Genetic Variation*
  • Genome, Bacterial*
  • Photobacterium / genetics*

Grants and funding

The draft genome sequence of Photobacterium profundum 3TCK was obtained at the J. Craig Venter Institute as a part of the Moore Foundation Microbial Genome Sequencing Project (http://camera.calit2.net/microgenome/). FML is supported by a fellowship from the Australian Research Council (DE120102610). DHB is supported by grants from the National Science Foundation (EF0827051) and National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NNX11AG10G). The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.