Genomic and phenotypic comparison of polyhydroxyalkanoates producing strains of genus <i>Caldimonas</i> / <i>Schlegelella</i>
Jana Musilová, Xenie Kouřilová, Kristýna Heřmánková, Matěj Bezdíček, Anastasiia Grybchuk‐Ieremenko, Pavel Dvořák, Stanislav Obruča, Karel Sedlář
Abstract
Polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs) have emerged as an environmentally friendly alternative to conventional polyesters.In this study, we present a comprehensive analysis of the genomic and phenotypic characteristics of three non-model thermophilic bacteria known for their ability to produce PHAs: Schlegelella aquatica LMG 23380 T , Caldimonas thermodepolymerans DSM 15264, and C. thermodepolymerans LMG 21645 and the results were compared with the type strain C. thermodepolymerans DSM 15344 T .We have assembled the first complete genomes of these three bacteria and performed the structural and functional annotation.This analysis has provided valuable insights into the biosynthesis of PHAs and has allowed us to propose a comprehensive scheme of carbohydrate metabolism in the studied bacteria.Through phylogenomic analysis, we have confirmed the synonymity between Caldimonas and Schlegelella genera, and further demonstrated that S. aquatica and S. koreensis, currently classified as orphan species, belong to the Caldimonas genus.