Demystifying lanthanomes: a pangenomic approach

Abstract

Certain members of multi-generic, gram negative proteobacteria (newly named pseudomonatota) have recently been reported to be capable of successfully utilizing the catalytic potential of lanthanide metals for the efficient dehydrogenation of alcohols as a part of their respective regular metabolism. While recent studies did essentially help the characterization of most genes responsible for such lanthanomic behavior, much of the knowledge space regarding lanthanomes is still engulfed in a void. With an aim to potentially reduce this knowledge gap we conducted an in silico pangenomic analysis on 31 non redundant strains spanning 23 genera, who were previously proven to be lanthanomes in a typical wet lab. We tried to confirm the lanthonomicity of these microorganisms by screening the resultant pangenome for lanthanide dependent genesxoxF, xoxG, ExaF, PedH, fldA & gfaA. The analysis resulted in 181 core, 292 soft core, 7894 shell & 26805 cloud gene clusters respectively, while 26 of the 31 strains showed the presence of at least 1 of the selected lanthanomic genes. The results also support the heterogenic and subsequently divergent behavior of lanthanomes alongside events of concurrent clustering & genetic duplication.