Comparative genome analysis of Oceanimonas sp. GK1, a halotolerant bacterium with considerable xenobiotics degradation potentials

The growing pollution by xenobiotic compounds generated through both natural and anthropogenic activities has endangered the environment. The advent of the next generation sequencing has provided fast and cost-effective tools to explore genomes to discover novel xenobiotic-degrading genes. A Gram-negative marine halotolerant Oceanimonas sp. GK1 was analyzed for main physiological and genetically important characteristics at the genome scale while being compared with six other phylogenetically-close sequenced genomes. This exploration revealed high potential of Oceanimonas sp. GK1 for biodegradation of xenobiotics compounds such as phenol. More specifically, the isolate utilizes phenol via the ortho-cleavage pathway as a carbon source in the citrate cycle. This was further confirmed by the significant shortage of carbohydrate active enzymes in Oceanimonas sp. GK1 genome, which has forced this bacterium during the course of evolution to change its metabolism and physiology to benefit unusual carbon and energy sources to survive under harsh conditions.