Development of a genetic system for the chemolithoautotrophic bacterium Thiobacillus denitrificans.

ABSTRACT: Thiobacillus denitrificans is a widespread, chemolithoautotrophic bacterium with an unusual and environmentally relevant metabolic repertoire, which includes its ability to couple denitrification to sulfur compound oxidation; to catalyze anaerobic, nitrate-dependent oxidation of Fe(II) and U(IV); and to oxidize mineral electron donors. Recent analysis of its genome sequence also revealed the presence of genes encoding two [NiFe]hydrogenases, whose role in metabolism is unclear, as the sequenced strain does not appear to be able to grow on hydrogen as a sole electron donor under denitrifying conditions. In this study, we report the development of a genetic system for T. denitrificans, with which insertion mutations can be introduced by homologous recombination and complemented in trans. The

SUBMITTER: Letain TE 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC1907124 | biostudies-literature | 2007 May

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature