Rhodococcus sp. IITR03 Genome sequencing and assembly

An environmental isolate, Rhodococcus sps. strain IITR03 (GenBank Accession: JQ889713) was isolated from soil samples collected from Hindustan Insecticide Limited (HIL), Cochin. India. The bacteria were isolated by enrichment culture technique using 1,1,1-trichloro-2,2-di(4-chlorophenyl)ethane (DDT) as a sole carbon and energy source. The strain IITR03 was found to utilize DDT, 4-chlorobenzoic acid, 3-chlorobenzoic acid and benzoic acid as its growth substrate. It uses ß-ketoadipate pathway for degradation of aromatic compounds via ring cleaving catechol-1,2-dioxygenase enzyme activity, as assayed using central aromatic intermediate, catechol. It also possesses the ability to produce trehalolipid like biosurfactant whose role in enhanced biodegradation of highly hydrophobic substrate like DDT needs to be established. The strain IITR03 was selected for whole-genome sequencing to explore the genes involved in xenobiotic metabolism and understand the genetic versatility towards biodegradation of various classes of persistent aromatic hydrocarbons.