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First insight into the genome of an uncultivated crenarchaeote from soil
Author(s) -
Quaiser Achim,
Ochsenreiter Torsten,
Klenk HansPeter,
Kletzin Arnulf,
Treusch Alexander H.,
Meurer Guido,
Eck Jürgen,
Sensen Christoph W.,
Schleper Christa
Publication year - 2002
Publication title -
environmental microbiology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.954
H-Index - 188
eISSN - 1462-2920
pISSN - 1462-2912
DOI - 10.1046/j.1462-2920.2002.00345.x
Subject(s) - biology , fosmid , crenarchaeota , archaea , genomic dna , genetics , gene , 16s ribosomal rna , ribosomal rna , genome , phylogenetic tree , bacterial artificial chromosome
Summary Molecular phylogenetic surveys based on the characterization of 16S rRNA genes have revealed that soil is an environment particularly rich in microbial diversity. A clade of crenarchaeota (archaea) has frequently been detected among many other novel lineages of uncultivated bacteria. In this study we have initiated a genomic approach for the characterization of uncultivated microorganisms from soil. We have developed a procedure based on a two‐phase electrophoresis technique that allows the fast and reliable purification of concentrated and clonable, high molecular weight DNA. From this DNA we have constructed complex large‐insert genomic libraries. Using archaea‐specific 16S rRNA probes we have isolated a 34 kbp fragment from a 900 Mbp fosmid library of soil DNA. The clone contained a complete 16S/23S rRNA operon and 17 genes encoding putative proteins. Phylogenetic analyses of the rRNA genes and of several protein encoding genes (e.g. DNA polymerase, FixAB, glycosyl transferase) confirmed the specific affiliation of the genomic fragment with the non‐thermophilic clade of the crenarchaeota. Content and structure of the genomic fragment indicated that the archaea from soil differ significantly from their previously studied uncultivated marine relatives. The protein encoding genes gave the first insights into the physiological potential of these organisms and can serve as a basis for future genomic and functional genomic studies.