Bacteria Genomes - IDIOMARINA LOIHIENSIS

Idiomarina loihiensis is a deep-sea living Gram-negative, gamma-proteobacterium. It is motile by a single polar or subpolar flagellum and the genome comprises a single chromosome of 2,839,318 base pairs.

Idiomarina loihiensis was isolated recently from a hydrothermal vent at 1,300-m depth on the Loihi submarine volcano, Hawaii. I. loihiensis inhabits partially oxygenated cold waters at the periphery of the vent, surviving a wide range of growth temperatures (from 4C to 46C) and salinities (from 0.5% to 20% NaCl). L2-TR is mesophilic since it grows at 43C but not at 50C.

A comparison of I. loihiensis to the genomes of other gamma-proteobacteria reveals abundance of amino acid transport and degradation enzymes, but a loss of sugar transport systems and certain enzymes of sugar metabolism. This finding suggests that I. loihiensis relies primarily on amino acid catabolism, rather than on sugar fermentation, for carbon and energy.The I. loihiensis genome reveals an integrated mechanism of metabolic adaptation to the constantly changing deep-sea hydrothermal ecosystem. The complete genome sequence of Idiomarina loihiensis is expected to offer insight into how this organism survives in the deep ocean and specifically around Loihi's hydrothermal vents, areas in which nutrient levels are low and pressure is high. In addition to elucidating its evolutionary history, researchers expect to detect novel proteins and other molecules of biotechnological, medical or industrial importance.

References:

Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 101(52):18036-18041(2004
http://www.hawaii.edu/microbiology/Alam/bioinfo.htm