Liu, Fang

ABSTRACT “ Candidatus Synechococcus spongiarum” represents the widespread cyanobacterial symbionts found in marine sponges with relatively high genomic variability and likely important ecological roles. We present here the draft genome sequence of “ Candidatus Synechococcus spongiarum” m9, which was assembled from a metagenome of Theonella swinhoei sampled in the South China Sea.

Agrobacterium tumefaciens is a plant pathogen capable of transferring a defined segment of DNA to a host plant, generating a gall tumor. Replacing the transferred tumor-inducing genes with exogenous DNA allows the introduction of any desired gene into the plant. Thus, A. tumefaciens has been critical for the development of modern plant genetics and agricultural biotechnology. Here we describe the genome of A. tumefaciens strain C58, which has an unusual structure consisting of one circular and one linear chromosome. We discuss genome architecture and evolution and additional genes potentially involved in virulence and metabolic parasitism of host plants.