Prochlorococcus marinus str. MIT 9515

Prochlorococcus_marinus
Names Prochlorococcus marinus str. MIT 9515
Accession numbers NC_008817
Background Prochlorococcus, a fairly recently discovered cyanobacterium (1988), is the smallest known free-living photosynthetic prokaryote. Despite its small size it contributes significantly to global nutrient cycling. It is unique among cyanobacteria in using divinyl chlorophyll a and b as the major light-harvesting pigments, and harvests light with chlorophyll-binding antenna proteins (Pcb proteins) instead of the phycobilisomes used by most cyanobacteria. It is found in low- to mid-latitude oceans and seas, thriving in nutrient-poor waters and at greater depths than its close relative Synechococcus (down to 135m for Prochlorococcus, but only 95m for Synechococcus). Prochlorococcus can be differentiated into low-light (LL) and high-light (HL)-adapted ecotypes that have different physiologies and exist at different depths. Comparison of 12 whole genomes suggests the core genome contains about 1250 genes, while the pan-genome will have more than 5800 genes.This LL-adapted strain was isolated from the North Atlantic Ocean at 10m depth in April 1990. Its chlorophyll b/a ratio is 0.97 and it belongs to high chlorophyll b/a clade I. (HAMAP: PROMT)
Taxonomy
Kingdom:Bacteria
Phylum:Cyanobacteria
Class:NA
Order:Prochlorales
Family:Prochlorococcaceae
Genus:Prochlorococcus
Species:marinus
Strain MIT9515
Complete Yes
Sequencing centre (06-NOV-2006) J Craig Venter Institute, 9704 Medical Center Drive, Rockville, MD 20850, USA
(22-JAN-2007) National Center for Biotechnology Information, NIH, Bethesda, MD 20894, USA
Sequencing quality Level 6: Finished
Sequencing depth NA
Sequencing method Sanger
Isolation site 5m depth in Mediterranean Sea
Isolation country NA
Number of replicons 1
Gram staining properties Negative
Shape NA
Mobility No
Flagellar presence No
Number of membranes 2
Oxygen requirements NA
Optimal temperature NA
Temperature range Mesophilic
Habitat Aquatic
Biotic relationship Free living
Host name NA
Cell arrangement NA
Sporulation NA
Metabolism NA
Energy source Photosynthetic
Diseases None
Pathogenicity No