ARS | Publication request: Complete genome of the cellulolytic ruminal bacterium Ruminococcus albus 7

Submitted to: Journal of Bacteriology
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: September 8, 2011
Publication Date: September 13, 2011
Citation: Suen, G., Stevenson, D.M., Bruce, D., Chertkov, O., Copeland, A., Cheng, J., Detter, C., Detter, J.C., Goodwin, L.A., Han, C.S., Hauser, L.J., Ivanova, N.N., Kyrpides, N.C., Land, M.L., Lapidus, A., Lucas, S., Ovchinnikova, G., Pitluck, S., Tapia, R., Woyke, T., Boyum, J., Mead, D., Weimer, P.J. 2011. Complete genome of the cellulolytic ruminal bacterium Ruminococcus albus 7. Journal of Bacteriology. 193:5574-5575.

Interpretive Summary: Determining the complete nucleotide sequence of the genome of an individual strain of bacterium is the first step in understanding the capabilities of the strain, and in identifying novel enzymes (such as those useful for biofuels production) that might be produced by the strain. We sequenced the entire genome of the ruminal bacterium Ruminococcus albus 7, including its single chromosome and four extra non-chromosomal elements. Together these comprise over 4.4 million bases (equivalent to the letters in a code unique to this strain). The results will be useful to researchers seeking new enzymes for improving animal feeding or for biofuels production.

Technical Abstract: Ruminococcus albus 7 is a highly cellulolytic rumen bacterium that is a member of the phylum Firmicutes. Here, we describe the complete genome for this microbe. This genome will be useful for rumen microbiology, cellulosome biology, and in biofuel production, as one of its major fermentation products is ethanol.