Genomic analysis of Pseudoalteromonas sp. SD03 reveals its potential in chitin hydrolysis

Pseudoalteromonas sp. SD03, a marine bacterium capable of chitin degradation, was isolated from Antarctic surface water. Here, the genome of strain SD03 was sequenced and the chitin metabolic pathways were constructed. The genome of strain SD03 contained two circular chromosomes and one plasmid totaling 4,326,719 bp with a G + C content of 40.27%. A total of 4005 protein-coding sequences were predicted. Gene annotation and metabolic pathway reconstruction confirmed that strain SD03 possessed intact gene clusters for the hydrolytic chitin degradation pathway. Chitin represents the predominant polysaccharide in marine ecosystems. The degradation and recycling of chitin, mediated by marine bacteria, underpin critical biogeochemical cycling processes of carbon and nitrogen in marine environments. The genomic information of strain SD03 revealed its genetic potential involved in chitin metabolism. The strain SD03 could grow with colloidal chitin as the sole carbon source, indicating that these genes would have functions in chitin degradation and utilization. These findings provide genomic insights into the biogeochemical cycling of marine chitin in polar environments.