Draft Genome Sequence of the Radioresistant Bacterium Deinococcus aerius TR0125, Isolated from the High Atmosphere above Japan

Abstract

Deinococcus aerius strain TR0125 is a bacterium isolated from the high atmosphere above Japan that shows strong resistance to desiccation, UV-C, and gamma radiation. Here, we report the draft genome sequence of D. aerius (4.5 Mb), which may provide useful genetic information supporting its biochemical features.

Earth's Stratosphere and Microbial Life

“…Other observations have indicated that cells grow more slowly upon return from the stratosphere. Slowed growth was reported for the orange-pigmented, non-motile, non-spore-forming Deinococcus aerius TR0125, isolated from 10 km ASL, which was found to grow at a much slower rate than D. radiodurans, D. grandis, and D. geothermalis (Satoh et al, 2018). This is consistent with other findings of slower growth observed for a stratospheric Bacillus sp.…”

“…Recent stratospheric Deinococcus isolates include a radioresistant orange-pigmented, desiccation-tolerant, UV-and γradiation resistant bacterium Deinococcus aerius TR0125 (from 0.8-5.8 km), and Deinococcus aetherius ST0316 (from 10-12 km above Japan). They were found to have similar radiation resistance traits as D. radiodurans in laboratory studies (Yang et al, 2008;Yang et al, 2009;Yang et al, 2010;Satoh et al, 2018). D. aerius was found to encode DNA photolyase involved in UV resistance, as well as, radiation/desiccation response system genes including pprI, pprA, recA, ddrA, and ddrO also found in D. radiodurans, D. grandis, and D. geothermalis.…”

“…D. aerius was found to encode DNA photolyase involved in UV resistance, as well as, radiation/desiccation response system genes including pprI, pprA, recA, ddrA, and ddrO also found in D. radiodurans, D. grandis, and D. geothermalis. (Du and Gebicki, 2004;Daly et al, 2007;Yang et al, 2008;Satoh et al, 2018). Some species form aggregates, e.g.…”

Bacterial Metal Accumulation as a Strategy for Waste Recycling Management

“…Cells dealing with acid stress can employ several mechanisms to avoid the drop of intracellular pH [52], since a high concentration of protons inside the cell is deleterious to proteins and nucleic acids. Bacteria such as D. radiodurans and D. aerius are potent reactive oxygen species (ROS) scavengers and possess highly efficient DNA repair mechanisms [53,54], which may allow cells to maintain viability and morphology in a very acidic and metalliferous environment. Cells of acidophilic microorganisms can be very well equipped with a powerful proton pump mechanism to activate ATP-dependent H + extrusion and/or other effective pH homeostasis mechanisms such as chemical and enzymatic proton sequestration [55][56][57].…”