Complete genome sequence of the endosymbiont Blattabacterium from the cockroach Nauphoeta cinerea (Blattodea: Blaberidae)

Abstract

All cockroaches, with the exception of one cave-dwelling genus, harbor endosymbiotic bacteria, Blattabacterium. After much confusion concerning their function, recent genomic studies indicate that Blattabacterium synthesize amino acids, vitamins, and other compounds. However, the Blattabacterium genomes sequenced so far suggest that the endosymbionts are variable in their genome size, gene composition, and compounds they synthesize. Therefore, there is a need for sequencing additional Blattabacterium genomes to fully comprehend their evolution. Here, we report the complete genome sequence of Blattabacterium (BNCIN) harbored by the host Nauphoeta cinerea (Blaberidae). The BNCIN genome is 622,952 bp long and consists of 581 protein coding regions and 627 genes of putative function. The genome of BNCIN is comparable, with a few structural and functional differences, to the genomes of the other sequenced Blattabacterium. The endosymbiont is involved in complete or partial synthesis of 15 amino acids.

Keywords: Amino acid biosynthesis; Blattabacterium; Cockroach; Endosymbiont; Genomics; Nauphoeta.