Plasticity and variability of Pseudomonas plecoglossicida NyZ12 genome

Abstract:

[Background] Pseudomonas is genus of bacteria ubiquitous in soil and water environments, among which Pseudomonas plecoglossicida NyZ12 is a Gram-negative bacterium that can grow on cyclohexylamine as the sole carbon and nitrogen source, with the genome up to 7.0 Mb. [Objective] To investigate whether the genome of P. plecoglossicida NyZ12 has plasticity and variability. [Methods] P. plecoglossicida NyZ12 was continuously cultured with succinic acid or the intermediate cyclohexanone as the carbon source for natural mutation, and then the mutants incapable of growing on cyclohexylamine as the sole carbon and nitrogen source were isolated. The whole genomes of the mutants T₁ and T₂ were sequenced and compared with that of the wild-type P. plecoglossicida NyZ12. [Results] The genomes of mutants T₁ and T₂ presented a large number of deletions and mutations compared with the wild type. A large number of repeats, transposons, and prophages were present in the two missing large gene fragments. [Conclusion] The genome of P. plecoglossicida NyZ12 is characterized with plasticity and variability. This study explores the possible mechanism and gives insight into the adaptation and evolution of microorganisms.