CAZymes in Maribacter dokdonensis 62-1. CAZymes in Maribacter 62-1

This study describes CAZyme diversity and alginate degradation in a novel strain of the flavobacterial genus Maribacter dokdonensis in comparison to (i) other Maribacter strains, (ii) the “sister genus” Zobellia possessing diverse algal adaptations, and (iii) an Alteromonas strain isolated from the same seawater sample.Using comparative genomics, physiological experiments and substrate quantification, we show considerable growth of strain 62-1 with the macroalgal polysaccharide alginate, relating to sizeable polysaccharide utilization loci (PUL). Other encoded PUL potentially target ulvan and fucoidan. In context with the Maribacter pangenome, this demonstrates how polysaccharide metabolism and other adaptive traits (e.g. relating to surface attachment and interactions with macroalgal hosts) mediate niche specialization.