Cha, I.-T.

ABSTRACT Ammonia-oxidizing archaea (AOA) typically predominate over ammonia-oxidizing bacteria in marine sediments. We herein present the draft genome sequence of an ammonia-oxidizing archaeon, “ Candidatus Nitrosopumilus sediminis” AR2, which was enriched in culture from a marine sediment obtained off Svalbard, within the Arctic Circle. The typical genes involved in archaeal ammonia oxidation and carbon fixation necessary for chemolithoautotrophic growth were observed. Interestingly, the AR2 genome sequence was revealed to possess, uniquely among cultivated AOA from marine environments, a capability for urea utilization.

ABSTRACT Ammonia-oxidizing archaea (AOA) are ubiquitous in various marine environments and play important roles in the global nitrogen and carbon cycles. We here present a high-quality draft genome sequence of an ammonia-oxidizing archaeon, “ Candidatus Nitrosopumilus koreensis” AR1, which was found to dominate an ammonia-oxidizing enrichment culture in marine sediment off Svalbard, the Arctic Circle. Despite a significant number of nonoverlapping genes (ca. 30%), similarities of this strain to “ Candidatus Nitrosopumilus maritimus” were revealed by core genes for archaeal ammonia oxidation and carbon fixation, G+C content, and extensive synteny conservation.