Bathymodiolus platifrons endosymbiont genome sequencing. Bathymodiolus platifrons methanotrophic gill symbiont

The deep-mussel Bathymodiolus platifrons is distributed in cold seep in the Sagami bay, Japan, owing its biomass to the functional dependence on its symbiotic association with chemoautotrophic methan-oxidizing bacteria. Little is known about physiological characteristics and ecological significance of endosymbionts. We therefore performed the genome analysis on the endosymbiont of Bathymodiolus platifrons. The genome sequence and comparative genome analysis among methan-oxidizing endosymbionts will provide important insights into their evolution, physiological functions, and interactions with their host animals.