Caulobacter endophyticus sp. nov., an endophytic bacterium harboring three lasso peptide biosynthetic gene clusters...

A novel Gram-stain-negative, aerobic and rod-shaped bacterium with a single polar flagellum or a stalk at the end of the cell, was isolated from maize roots in the Fangshan District of Beijing, People's Republic of China. The new strain designated 774^T produced indole acetic acid (IAA). The 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis indicated that strain 774^T belongs to the genus Caulobacter and is closely related to Caulobacter flavus RHGG3^T, Caulobacter zeae 410^Tand Caulobacter radices 695^T, all with sequence similarities of 99.9%. The genome size of strain774^T was 5.4 Mb, comprising 5042 predicted genes with a DNA G+C content of 68.7%.Three striking lasso peptide biosynthetic gene clusters and two IAA synthesis genes belonging to the TPM pathway were also found in the genome of strain 774^T. The average nucleotide identity values and digital DNA-DNA hybridization values of the strain774^T with its closely phylogenetic neighbours were less than 91.5% and 45.0%, respectively, indicating a new Caulobacter species. The major fatty acids of strain774^T were identified as C16: 0 (27.7%), summed feature 3 (C16: 1ω6c and/or C16: 1ω7c) (12.6%) and summed feature 8 (C18: 1ω7c and/or C18: 1ω6c) (42.9%).The major polar lipids consisted of phosphatidyl-glycerol and glycolipids. The predominant ubiquinone was identified as Quinone 10. Based on the polyphasic characterization, strain 774^T represents a novel species of the genus Caulobacter, for which the name Caulobacter endophyticus sp. nov. is proposed with 774^T (= CGMCC 1.16558^T = DSM 106777^T) as the type strain.