Rhodococcus opacus strain:8 Genome sequencing and assembly. Rhodococcus opacus strain:8

A propane-degrading Rhodococcus sp. was isolated from petroleumcontaminatedsoil enrichment. We investigated the role of multiple alkane-degradingenzymes in the metabolism of gaseous alkanes in Rhodococcus jostii strain 8. The abilityof R. jostii strain 8 to grow on ethane, propane, butane, octane and naphthalene and theinability to grow on biphenyl and ethylbenzene suggested that R. jostii strain 8 is distinctfrom R. jostii RHA1. Illumina sequencing showed that the size of the genome sequence ofR. jostii strain 8 is 8.5 Mbp with a G+C content of 67%. The genome of R. jostii strain 8contains two different putative alkane-degrading enzyme systems – a propane monooxygenaseand an alkB-type alkane monooxygenase. Expression studies using RT-qPCR of prmAand alkB, a key gene encoding hydroxylase subunit of a propane monooxygenase and analkB-type alkane monooxygenase, respectively, showed that prmA was highly expressedduring growth on propane. The expression of alkB was detectable and significantly higherin alkane-grown cells than in glucose-grown cells. This suggested that alkB-type alkanemonooxygenase is likely involved in the metabolism of gaseous alkanes in R. jostii strain 8.This is the first report to show an involvement of alkB-type alkane monooxygenase in thedegradation of C2–C4 alkanes in Rhodococcus sp