Serratia liquefaciens FG3 isolated from a metallophyte plant sheds light on the evolution and mechanisms of adaptive traits in extreme environments

Abstract

Serratia liquefaciens strain FG3 (SlFG3), isolated from the flower of Stachytarpheta glabra in the Brazilian ferruginous fields, has distinctive genomic, adaptive, and biotechnological potential. Herein, using a combination of genomics and molecular approaches, we unlocked the evolution of the adaptive traits acquired by S1FG3, which exhibits the second largest chromosome containing the largest conjugative plasmids described for Serratia. Comparative analysis revealed the presence of 18 genomic islands and 311 unique protein families involved in distinct adaptive features. S1FG3 has a diversified repertoire of genes associated with Nonribosomal peptides (NRPs/PKS), a complete and functional cluster related to cellulose synthesis, and an extensive and functional repertoire of oxidative metabolism genes. In addition, S1FG3 possesses a complete pathway related to protocatecuate and chloroaromatic degradation, and a complete repertoire of genes related to DNA repair and protection that includes mechanisms related to UV light tolerance, redox process resistance, and a laterally acquired capacity to protect DNA using phosphorothioation. These findings summarize that SlFG3 is well-adapted to different biotic and abiotic stress situations imposed by extreme conditions associated with ferruginous fields, unlocking the impact of the lateral gene transfer to adjust the genome for extreme environments, and providing insight into the evolution of prokaryotes.

Genome features of a novel hydrocarbonoclastic Chryseobacterium oranimense strain and its comparison to bacterial oil-degraders and to other C. oranimense strains

“…radC, DNA repair protein, is commonly associated with microorganisms that inhabit harsh environments. 77 The radC gene was more abundant in the COTT genome than in the other C . oranimense genomes.…”

Genetic Determinants of Antagonistic Interactions and the Response of New Endophytic Strain Serratia quinivorans KP32 to Fungal Phytopathogens

“…Bacterial colonization is dependent on motility and chemotaxis for attractive tags that may be compounds that activate bacterial-specific signaling pathways. In the genome of the KP32 strain, a cluster of genes associated with the induction of hyper-adherence ( yidE-16hspA-yidR-yidQ ), which has been described as fundamental for some microorganisms to colonize plants and seeds, was identified [ 24 ]. Moreover, we confirmed the presence of many genes involved in the biosynthesis and assembly of flagella, such as the flg , fli , and flh operons, as well as genes coding for the flagellar motor proteins MotA and MotB.…”

Lupin, a Unique Legume That Is Nodulated by Multiple Microsymbionts: The Role of Horizontal Gene Transfer

“…Even phylogenetically distant species may experience the transference of transposable elements to/from their genomes through transfer vectors such as viruses, bacteria, or other parasites [ 32 ]. There are many examples in the literature of how horizontal gene transfer has driven significant evolutionary changes, or helped organisms to adapt to abiotic stress [ 33 ]. There are also some examples of horizontal gene transfer helping plants to adapt to biotic stress: for example, when symbiotic genes are acquired by bacteria with PGPR traits [ 34 ].…”