Shewanella woodyi NEU Spring 2012

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A Microbial Biorealm page on the genus Shewanella woodyi NEU Spring 2012

Description and significance

Figure 1 Polar flagellum [1]

Shewanella woodyi is a gram negative bacilli shaped bacterium between 1 to 2 micrometers in length. It is entirely marine and can be found in deep-sea environments therefore making it barophilic (tolerant to high pressure). Although other species within the Shewanella genus are psychrophilic, S. woodyi is instead mesophilic growing at an optimal temperature around 25°C. Each S. woodyi bacterial cell possesses a single polar flagellum making it motile, as seen in Figure 1. This bacterium is also luminescent, meaning it can emit light.

It is well known that the ocean acts as a sink for harmful compounds from both terrestrial and aquatic environments. S. woodyi is significant in that it helps reduce the levels of select toxic compounds such as RDX (hexahydro-1,3,5-trinitro-1,3,5-triazine). Additionally, this bacterium also plays a role in carbon and nitrogen cycling through its anaerobic capabilities.

Cell structure and metabolism

Shewanella woodyi are gram negative, nonsporulating rods (0.4-1.0 by 1.4-2.0 pm) with an unsheathed flagellum as was mentioned above. The molar percent of G and C content of its DNA is 39 mol%. For this bacteria's metabolism, it is catalase and oxidase positive and most strains produce amylase. All strains do produce gelatinase but are unable to make lipase, chtinase, and agarase. They are able to metabolize D-galactose, cellobiose, D-glucuronic acid, acetate, a-ketoglutarate,propionate, succinate, L-alanine, L-threonine, L-leucine, L-serine, and putrescine. Oxygen and nitrite is used by these cells as electron acceptors for their metabolic processes.[1]

Ecology

Originally found in squid ink, sediment, and among detritus from the Alboran Sea, this bacterium can be found in a wide range of areas. It thrives at 25°C in a deep-sea environment where it can use detritus and other compounds present for energy. Research in the past few years has suggested that these bacteria can use almost any electron acceptor for anaerobic respiration. The only criteria seems to be that the electron acceptor must be more electronegative than sulfate.

High pressure and colder temperatures are two major factors that S. woodyi must overcome in its environment. Usually under these conditions, cell membranes become very rigid and stiff. S. woodyi avoids this problem by producing a lot of polyunsaturated fatty acids in order to create a very lipid rich membrane. This characteristic allows for a more fluid membrane even under high pressures and lower temperatures.

References

[1] Makemson, J. C., Fulayfil, N. R., Landry, W., Van Ert, L. M., Wimpee, C. F., Widder, E. A. & Case, J. F. (1997). Shewanella woodyi sp. nov., an exclusively respiratory luminous bacterium isolated from the Alboran Sea. Int J Syst Bacteriol 47, 1034-1039. Kato, C., and Nogi, Y. "Correlation between phylogenetic structure and function: examples from deep-sea Shewanella". FEMS Microbiology Ecology. 2001. Volume 35. p. 223-230. Mackemson, J.C., Fulayfil, N.R., Landry, W., Van ert, L.M., Wimpee, C.F., Widder, E.A., and Case, J.F. "Shewanella woodyi sp. nov., an Exclusively Respiratory Luminous Bacterium Isolated from the Alboran Sea". International Journal of Systematic Bacteriology. 1997. Volume 47. p. 1034-1039. Nealson, K.H., and Scott, J. "Ecophysiology of the Genus Shewanella". Prokaryotes. 2006. Volume 6. p. 1133-1151. [1] Wang, F., Xiao, X., Ou, H., Gai, Y., and Wang, F. "Role and regulation of fatty acid biosynthesis in the response of S. pizotolerans WP3 to different temperatures and pressures". Journal of Bacteriology. 2009. Volume 191. p. 2574-2584. [2] Zhao, J., Deng, Y., Manno, D., and Hawari, J. "Genomic evolution for a cold marine lifestyle and in-situ explosive biodegration". PLoS ONE. 2010. Volume 5. p. e9109. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0009109. Venkateswaran, K., Moser, D.P., Dollhopf, M.E., Lies, D.P., Saffarini, D.A., MacGregor, B.J., Ringelberg, D.B., White, D.C., Nishijima, M., Sano, H., Burghardt, J., Stackebrandt, E., and Nealson, K.H. "Polyphasic taxonomy of the genus Shewanella and description of Shewanella oneidensis sp. nov.". International Journal of Systematic and Evolutionary Microbiology. 1999. Volume 49. p. 705-724.