Draft genome sequence of Thraustochytrium aureum ATCC 34304. Thraustochytrium aureum strain:ATCC 34304

Thraustochytrids are eukaryotic marine protists, including the typical genera Thraustochytrium and Aurantiochytrium (formerly Schizochytrium), which belong to the Stramenopiles, class Labyrinthulomycetes, family Thraustochytriaceae. These organisms are commonly found in marine and estuarine environments and play important roles in the degradation and mineralization of organic materials in marine ecosystems. Thraustochytrids have recently received increasing attention for their ability to produce and accumulate high amounts of n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (n-3 PUFAs) in cellular lipid droplets and thus, they are expected to become as an alternative to industrial source of n-3 PUFAs. To understand the mechanism of n-3 PUFAs production in Thraustochytrium aureum ATCC 34304, we performed a draft genome sequence analysis.