Genomic characterization provides genetic evidence for bacterial cellulose synthesis by Acetobacter pasteurianus RSV-4 strain.

There is ongoing quest to look for alternate sustainable and renewable biopolymers which can address the existing environmental issues. Bacterial cellulose could be one such option. Several organisms have been reported to produce bacterial cellulose. Among this, acetic acid bacteria (AAB) are reported to be one of the major producers of bacterial cellulose. Recently, we have identified an Acetobacter pasteurianus RSV-4 and reported to produce high tensile strength bacterial cellulose. In order to globally understand its genetic structure, a draft genome sequence of Acetobacter pasteurianus RSV-4 was performed in the present study. The assembled genome had 101 contigs contributing to a total length of 3.8 Mbp. Predicted coding DNA sequences were 3311, of which approximately 70% were assigned the functions. Genome level phylogenetic analysis revealed that RSV-4 belongs to A. pasteurianus. Glycolysis was found to be incomplete in the genome analysis of RSV-4, while the genes/enzymes involved in pentose-phosphate pathway were present. The final draft genome sequence lacked bacterial cellulose synthase (bcs) operon. However, the presence of operon was evident in raw genomic sequences by Sanger sequencing. Therefore, presence of bcs operon in Acetobacter pasteurianus RSV-4 has documented its potential for bacterial cellulose production.