Characterization and Transcriptome Analysis of a Long-Chain n -Alkane-Degrading Strain Acinetobacter pittii SW-1

Weina Kong, Cheng Zhao, Xingwang Gao, Liping Wang, Qianqian Tian, Yu Liu, Shuwen Xue, Zhuang Han, Fulin Chen and Shiwei Wang
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Weina Kong: Key Laboratory of Resources Biology and Biotechnology in Western China, School of Life Sciences, Northwest University, Ministry of Education, Xi’an 710069, China
Cheng Zhao: Key Laboratory of Resources Biology and Biotechnology in Western China, School of Life Sciences, Northwest University, Ministry of Education, Xi’an 710069, China
Xingwang Gao: Hulangmao Oil Production Area in No.3 Oil Production Plant of Changqing Oilfield Company, Yan’an 717500, China
Liping Wang: Key Laboratory of Resources Biology and Biotechnology in Western China, School of Life Sciences, Northwest University, Ministry of Education, Xi’an 710069, China
Qianqian Tian: Key Laboratory of Resources Biology and Biotechnology in Western China, School of Life Sciences, Northwest University, Ministry of Education, Xi’an 710069, China
Yu Liu: Key Laboratory of Resources Biology and Biotechnology in Western China, School of Life Sciences, Northwest University, Ministry of Education, Xi’an 710069, China
Shuwen Xue: Key Laboratory of Resources Biology and Biotechnology in Western China, School of Life Sciences, Northwest University, Ministry of Education, Xi’an 710069, China
Zhuang Han: Institute of Deep-Sea Science and Engineering, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Sanya 572000, China
Fulin Chen: Key Laboratory of Resources Biology and Biotechnology in Western China, School of Life Sciences, Northwest University, Ministry of Education, Xi’an 710069, China
Shiwei Wang: Key Laboratory of Resources Biology and Biotechnology in Western China, School of Life Sciences, Northwest University, Ministry of Education, Xi’an 710069, China

IJERPH, 2021, vol. 18, issue 12, 1-15

Abstract: Strain sw-1, isolated from 7619-m seawater of the Mariana Trench, was identified as Acinetobacter pittii by 16S rRNA gene and whole-genome sequencing. A. pittii sw-1 was able to efficiently utilize long-chain n -alkanes (C 18 –C 36 ), but not short- and medium-chain n -alkanes (C 8 –C 16 ). The degradation rate of C 20 was 91.25%, followed by C 18 , C 22 , C 24 , C 32 , and C 36 with the degradation rates of 89.30%, 84.03%, 80.29%, 30.29%, and 13.37%, respectively. To investigate the degradation mechanisms of n -alkanes for this strain, the genome and the transcriptome analyses were performed. Four key alkane hydroxylase genes ( alkB , almA , ladA1 , and ladA2 ) were identified in the genome. Transcriptomes of strain sw-1 grown in C 20 or CH 3 COONa (NaAc) as the sole carbon source were compared. The transcriptional levels of alkB and almA , respectively, increased 78.28- and 3.51-fold in C 20 compared with NaAc, while ladA1 and ladA2 did not show obvious change. The expression levels of other genes involved in the synthesis of unsaturated fatty acids, permeases, membrane proteins, and sulfur metabolism were also upregulated, and they might be involved in n -alkane uptake. Reverse transcription quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) confirmed that alkB expression was significantly induced by C 20 , C 24 , and C 32 , and almA induction extent by C 24 and C 32 was higher than that with C 20. Furthermore, ladA2 expression was only induced by C 32 , and ladA1 expression was not induced by any of n -alkanes. In addition, A. pittii sw-1 could grow with 0%–3% NaCl or 8 out of 10 kinds of the tested heavy metals and degrade n -alkanes at 15 °C. Taken together, these results provide comprehensive insights into the degradation of long-chain n -alkanes by Acinetobacter isolated from the deep ocean environment.

Keywords: Acinetobacter pittii; long-chain n -alkanes; alkane hydroxylase; whole-genome sequencing; transcriptome analysis (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
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