Complete genome sequence of N 2 -fixing model strain Klebsiella sp. nov. M5al, which produces plant cell wall-degrading enzymes and siderophores

Abstract

The bacterial strain M5al is a model strain for studying the molecular genetics of N₂-fixation and molecular engineering of microbial production of platform chemicals 1,3-propanediol and 2,3-butanediol. Here, we present the complete genome sequence of the strain M5al, which belongs to a novel species closely related to <i>Klebsiella michiganensis</i>. M5al secretes plant cell wall-degrading enzymes and colonizes rice roots but does not cause soft rot disease. M5al also produces siderophores and contains the gene clusters for synthesis and transport of yersiniabactin which is a critical virulence factor for <i>Klebsiella</i> pathogens in causing human disease. We propose that the model strain M5al can be genetically modified to study bacterial N₂-fixation in association with non-legume plants and production of 1,3-propanediol and 2,3-butanediol through degradation of plant cell wall biomass.