Anaeromyxobacter sp. strain PSR-1 genome sequencing. Anaeromyxobacter sp. PSR-1

Anaeromyxobacter sp. PSR-1 was isolated from arsenic-polluted soil in Japan as a dissimilatory arsenate-reducing bacterium. It is phylogenetically closely related with Anaeromyxobacter dehalogenans 2CP-1T with a 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity of 99.7%, and can also utilize soluble Fe(III), ferrihydrite, nitrate, oxygen and fumarate as electron acceptors. Strain PSR-1 can catalyze arsenic dissolution from arsenate-adsorbed ferrihydrite. In addition, inoculation of washed cells of strain PSR-1 into sterilized paddy soil successfully restored arsenic release. Anaeromyxobacter dehalogenans is known to utilize a wide variety of electron acceptors, including halogenated phenols, Fe(III), nitrate oxygen, fumarate, U(VI) and Se(IV), and has been one of promising microorganisms used in bioremediation. However, there have been no reports on arsenate reduction by this microorganism. Thus, arsenate reduction by strain PSR-1 expands the metabolic versatility of this valuable microorganism.