Whole-Genome Sequencing of Corallococcus sp. Strain EGB Reveals the Genetic Determinants Linking Taxonomy and Predatory Behavior

• Published in: Genes 2021-09, Vol.12 (9), p.1421
• Main Authors: Zhao, Yuqiang, Wang, Yanxin, Xia, Chengyao, Li, Xu, Ye, Xianfeng, Fan, Qiwen, Huang, Yan, Li, Zhoukun, Zhu, Cancan, Cui, Zhongli
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Animals; Annotations; Behavior; Biological control; Biosynthetic Pathways - genetics; Chitinases - genetics; Chromosomes; Corallococcus; Enzymes; Extracellular enzymes; Fungi; Gene clusters; Genes; Genetic Linkage; Genome, Bacterial; Genomes; Genomic analysis; Genomics; Host-Pathogen Interactions - genetics; Metabolites; Microbial Interactions - genetics; Microorganisms; Multigene Family - genetics; Myxococcales - classification; Myxococcales - genetics; Phylogenetics; Phylogeny; Phytopathogenic fungi; Plant diseases; Plant Diseases - microbiology; Predation; Predatory behavior; Proteins; Saline soils; Signal transduction; Software; Taxonomy; Whole Genome Sequencing
• ISSN: 2073-4425; 2073-4425
• DOI: 10.3390/genes12091421

sp. strain EGB is a Gram-negative myxobacteria isolated from saline soil, and has considerable potential for the biocontrol of phytopathogenic fungi. However, the detailed mechanisms related to development and predatory behavior are unclear. To obtain a comprehensive overview of genetic features, the genome of strain EGB was sequenced, annotated, and compared with 10 other species. The strain EGB genome was assembled as a single circular chromosome of 9.4 Mb with 7916 coding genes. Phylogenomics analysis showed that strain EGB was most closely related to AB047A, and it was inferred to be a novel species within the genus. Comparative genomic analysis revealed that the pan-genome of genus was large and open. Only a small proportion of genes were specific to strain EGB, and most of them were annotated as hypothetical proteins. Subsequent analyses showed that strain EGB produced abundant extracellular enzymes such as chitinases and β-(1,3)-glucanases, and proteases to degrade the cell-wall components of phytopathogenic fungi. In addition, 35 biosynthetic gene clusters potentially coding for antimicrobial compounds were identified in the strain EGB, and the majority of them were present in the dispensable pan-genome with unexplored metabolites. Other genes related to secretion and regulation were also explored for strain EGB. This study opens new perspectives in the greater understanding of the predatory behavior of strain EGB, and facilitates a potential application in the biocontrol of fungal plant diseases in the future.