Microbial Genome Sequencing: Complete Genomic Sequencing of Arthrobacter aurescens strain TC1

明尼苏达大学的Michael Sadowsky博士和Lawrence Wacket博士、明尼苏达科学博物馆的Patrick Hamilton博士和马里兰州基因组研究所的Karen Nelson博士获得了一项赠款，以获得土壤细菌澳大利亚节杆菌Tc1株的完整DNA序列并鉴定其主要基因。节杆菌菌株广泛存在于全球土壤中，有助于有机物质的循环利用和环境污染物的分解。尽管它们对环境具有重要意义，但这一组中没有一个成员的总DNA含量进行了测序。将使用现代DNA测序技术和计算机工具来获得序列信息和所有基因的潜在功能，包括那些涉及消除环境中有害化学物质的基因。Sadowsky博士和Wackett博士将与明尼苏达州圣保罗的明尼苏达科学博物馆(SMM)合作，该博物馆每年接待100多万名参观者，以开发展示在该项目中获得的基因组信息及其对环境的重要性的展品。完整微生物基因组序列的出现正在给微生物学、医学和环境科学带来革命性的变化。基因组测序提供了有关细菌基因在其染色体上是如何组织的、存在哪些基因以及它们是如何进化的信息。节杆菌是一种独特的细菌，因为它们的生命周期相对复杂，能在北极等极端环境中生存，并对干燥和饥饿具有极强的抵抗力。这些细菌能够降解环境中的各种有毒物质，包括杀虫剂、汽油添加剂、炸药和工业溶剂。金黄色节杆菌的基因组序列将提供关于该微生物基本重要生物学特性的宝贵信息。鉴于它们有能力分解大量与环境有关的化合物，从完整基因组序列中获得的知识将有助于指导这些微生物在污染环境的生物修复中的使用。

A grant has been awarded to Drs. Michael Sadowsky and Lawrence Wacket at the University of Minnesota, Dr. Patrick Hamilton at the Science Museum of Minnesota, and Dr. Karen Nelson at The Institute for Genome Research (Maryland) to obtain the complete DNA sequence of and identify the major genes in the soil bacterium Arthrobacter aurescens strain TC1. Arthrobacter strains are widespread in soil around the globe and contribute to recycling organic matter and breaking down environmental pollutants. Despite their environmental importance, no member of this group has had its total DNA content sequenced. Modern DNA sequencing technologies and computer tools will be used to obtain sequence information and the potential function of all the genes, including those involved in ridding the environment of harmful chemicals. Drs. Sadowsky and Wackett will partner with the Science Museum of Minnesota (SMM) in St. Paul, MN, which hosts more than one million visitors annually, to develop exhibits that display the genomic information obtained in this project and its importance for the environment.The availability of complete microbial genome sequences is revolutionizing microbiology, medicine, and environmental sciences. Genome sequencing provides information on how bacterial genes are organized on their chromosome, what genes are present, and how they evolved. Arthrobacter are unique bacteria in that they have relatively complex life cycles, survive in extreme environments, such as the arctic, and are extremely resistant to drying and starvation. These bacteria are capable of degrading a variety of toxic substances in the environment, including pesticides, gasoline additives, explosives, and industrial solvents. The genomic sequence of Arthrobacter aurescens will provide invaluable information concerning this microorganism's fundamentally important biological properties. Given their ability to break down a large number of environmentally relevant compounds, knowledge obtained from the complete genomic sequence will help guide the use of these microbes in the bioremediation of contaminated environments.