Cell Plasticity and Genomic Structure of a Novel Filterable <i>Rhizobiales</i> Bacterium that Belongs to a Widely Distributed Lineage

Abstract

Rhizobiales bacterium strain IZ6 is a novel filterable bacterium that was isolated from a suspension filtrate (Flaviflagellibacter deserti. Unlike the methylotrophic bacteria and nitrogen-fixing bacteria in related genera, there were no genes that encoded enzymes for one-carbon-compound utilization and nitrogen fixation in the IZ6 genome; the genes related to nitrate and nitrite reductase are retained and those related to the cell membrane function tend to be slightly enriched in the genome. This genomic information helps elucidate the eco-physiological function of a phenotypically heterogeneous and diverse Rhizobiales group.

Keywords

• bacteria
• filterable bacteria
• phylogeny
• novel lineage
• genome
• nitrogen cycling