Publications

4851

Phytoplasmas are a diverse but phylogenetically coherent group of cell-wall-less bacteria affiliated with the classMollicutes. Due to difficulties in establishing axenic culture, phytoplasmas were assigned to a provisional genus, ‘CandidatusPhytoplasma’, and the genus was embraced within the orderAcholeplasmatales. However, phytoplasmas differ significantly from species of the genusAcholeplasmain their habitat specificities, modes of life, metabolic capabilities, genomic architectures, and phylogenetic positions. This communication describes the unique ecological, nutritional, biochemical, genomic and phylogenetic properties that distinguish phytoplasmas from species of the genusAcholeplasmaand all other taxa in the classMollicutes. Since such distinguishing properties of the phytoplasmas are not referable to the descriptions of the orderAcholeplasmatalesand of all other existing orders, namelyMycoplasmatales,EntomoplasmatalesandAnaeroplasmatales, this communication raises the question of whether ‘CandidatusPhytoplasma’ should be retained in the orderAcholeplasmatalesor whether a novel provisional order and family should be created to accommodate the genus ‘Ca.Phytoplasma’.

Summary Two morphotypes of multicellular magnetotactic prokaryotes ( MMPs ) have been identified: spherical (several species) and ellipsoidal (previously one species). Here, we report novel ellipsoidal MMPs that are ∼ 10 × 8 μm in size, and composed of about 86 cells arranged in six to eight interlaced circles. Each MMP was composed of cells that synthesized either bullet‐shaped magnetite magnetosomes alone, or both bullet‐shaped magnetite and rectangular greigite magnetosomes. They showed north‐seeking magnetotaxis, ping‐pong motility and negative phototaxis at a velocity up to 300 μm s −1 . During reproduction, they divided along either their long‐ or short‐body axes. For genetic analysis, we sorted the ellipsoidal MMPs with micromanipulation and amplified their genomes using multiple displacement amplification. We sequenced the 16 S r RNA gene and found 6.9% sequence divergence from that of ellipsoidal MMPs , Candidatus Magnetananas tsingtaoensis and > 8.3% divergence from those of spherical MMPs . Therefore, the novel MMPs belong to different species and genus compared with the currently known ellipsoidal and spherical MMPs respectively. The novel MMPs display a morphological cell differentiation, implying a potential division of labour. These findings provide new insights into the diversity of MMPs in general, and contribute to our understanding of the evolution of multicellularity among prokaryotes.

ABSTRACT “Candidatus Sulcia muelleri” is a symbiont of sap-feeding insects in the suborder Auchenorrhyncha. The strain “ Ca . Sulcia muelleri” ML is associated with the maize leafhopper ( Dalbulus maidis ), collected in Brazil, which is a disease vector that affects corn production. Here, we report the complete genome sequence of this bacterium.

ABSTRACT We present the draft genome of anammox bacterium “ Candidatus Scalindua brodae,” which at 282 contigs is a major improvement over the highly fragmented genome assembly of related species “ Ca. Scalindua profunda” (1,580 contigs) which was previously published.

ABSTRACT “ Candidatus Methylomirabilis oxyfera” is a newly discovered anaerobic methanotroph that, surprisingly, oxidizes methane through an aerobic methane oxidation pathway. The second step in this aerobic pathway is the oxidation of methanol. In Gram-negative bacteria, the reaction is catalyzed by pyrroloquinoline quinone (PQQ)-dependent methanol dehydrogenase (MDH). The genome of “ Ca . Methylomirabilis oxyfera” putatively encodes three different MDHs that are localized in one large gene cluster: one so-called MxaFI-type MDH and two XoxF-type MDHs (XoxF1 and XoxF2). MxaFI MDHs represent the canonical enzymes, which are composed of two PQQ-containing large (α) subunits (MxaF) and two small (β) subunits (MxaI). XoxF MDHs are novel, ecologically widespread, but poorly investigated types of MDHs that can be phylogenetically divided into at least five different clades. The XoxF MDHs described thus far are homodimeric proteins containing a large subunit only. Here, we purified a heterotetrameric MDH from “ Ca . Methylomirabilis oxyfera” that consisted of two XoxF and two MxaI subunits. The enzyme was localized in the periplasm of “ Ca . Methylomirabilis oxyfera” cells and catalyzed methanol oxidation with appreciable specific activity and affinity ( V max of 10 μmol min −1 mg −1 protein, K m of 17 μM). PQQ was present as the prosthetic group, which has to be taken up from the environment since the known gene inventory required for the synthesis of this cofactor is lacking. The MDH from “ Ca . Methylomirabilis oxyfera” is the first representative of type 1 XoxF proteins to be described.

ABSTRACT The recently discovered seventh order of methanogens, the Methanomassiliicoccales (previously referred to as “ Methanoplasmatales ”), so far consists exclusively of obligately hydrogen-dependent methylotrophs. We sequenced the complete genome of “ Candidatus Methanoplasma termitum” from a highly enriched culture obtained from the intestinal tract of termites and compared it with the previously published genomes of three other strains from the human gut, including the first isolate of the order. Like all other strains, “ Ca . Methanoplasma termitum” lacks the entire pathway for CO 2 reduction to methyl coenzyme M and produces methane by hydrogen-dependent reduction of methanol or methylamines, which is consistent with additional physiological data. However, the shared absence of cytochromes and an energy-converting hydrogenase for the reoxidation of the ferredoxin produced by the soluble heterodisulfide reductase indicates that Methanomassiliicoccales employ a new mode of energy metabolism, which differs from that proposed for the obligately methylotrophic Methanosphaera stadtmanae . Instead, all strains possess a novel complex that is related to the F 420 :methanophenazine oxidoreductase (Fpo) of Methanosarcinales but lacks an F 420 -oxidizing module, resembling the apparently ferredoxin-dependent Fpo-like homolog in Methanosaeta thermophila . Since all Methanomassiliicoccales also lack the subunit E of the membrane-bound heterodisulfide reductase (HdrDE), we propose that the Fpo-like complex interacts directly with subunit D, forming an energy-converting ferredoxin:heterodisulfide oxidoreductase. The dual function of heterodisulfide in Methanomassiliicoccales , which serves both in electron bifurcation and as terminal acceptor in a membrane-associated redox process, may be a unique characteristic of the novel order.