Identification of genes that confer sediment fitness to Desulfovibrio desulfuricans G20

Abstract

Signature-tagged mutants of Desulfovibrio desulfuricans G20 were screened, and 97 genes crucial for sediment fitness were identified. These genes belong to functional categories including signal transduction, binding and transport, insertion elements, and others. Mutants with mutations in genes encoding proteins involved in amino acid biosynthesis, hydrogenase activity, and DNA repair were further characterized.

FIG. 1.

Growth of D. desulfuricans G20_sediment and the mutants G12(pD6), B12(pE4), and A2(pE11) in mineral medium with or without (w/o) yeast extract (YE) at concentrations of 0.05% (A), 0.01% (B), 0.005% (C), and 0% (D). The data shown represent the average of duplicate cultures. Error bars represent standard deviations.

FIG. 2.

Growth of the D. desulfuricans G20_sediment (G20sedi) strain and the mutants C10(pG11), C10(pB6), and C8(pE11) in mineral medium using lactate (A) and H₂ (B) as electron donors. Cultures were incubated at 37°C with shaking for H₂ tubes and without shaking for lactate tubes. The data shown represent the average of duplicate cultures. Error bars represent standard deviations.