Complete Genome Sequence of Geobacillus strain Y4.1MC1, a Novel CO-Utilizing Geobacillus thermoglucosidasius Strain Isolated from Bath Hot Spring in Yellowstone National Park

Abstract

Geobacillus thermoglucosidasius Y4.1MC1 was isolated from a boiling spring in the lower geyser basin of Yellowstone National Park. This species is of interest because of its metabolic versatility. The genome consists of one circular chromosome of 3,840,330 bp and a circular plasmid of 71,617 bp with an average GC content of 44.01 %. The genome is available in the GenBank database (NC_014650.1 and NC_014651.1). In addition to the expected metabolic pathways for sugars and amino acids, the Y4.1MC1 genome codes for two separate carbon monoxide utilization pathways, an aerobic oxidation pathway and an anaerobic reductive acetyl CoA (Wood-Ljungdahl) pathway. This is the first report of a non-anaerobic organism with the Wood-Ljungdahl pathway. This anaerobic pathway permits the strain to utilize H 2 and fix CO 2 present in the hot spring environment. Y4.1MC1 and its related species may play a significant role in carbon capture and sequestration in thermophilic ecosystems and may open up new routes to produce biofuels and chemicals from CO, H 2, and CO 2.