Genome sequence of Aurantiochytrium

A marine microbe, Aurantiochytrium, belongs to the Order Thraustochytriaceae (so-called thraustochytrids), which are a group of non-photosynthetic, marine, fungoid protists, characterized by an ectoplasmic net and a cell wall composed of non-cellulosic, sulfated scales. Their high biomass and production of degradative enzymes indicate that thraustochytrids play a significant ecological role as alternative food sources for picoplankton feeders, as well as being active decomposers and consumers in marine microbial food chains. Thraustochytrids have also been regarded as a promising industrial source of xanthophylls, including astaxanthin and canthaxanthin, polyunsaturated fatty acids such as docosahexaenoic acid and docosapentaenoic acid, omega-3 oils, and terpenic hydrocarbons such as sterols and squalene. We decoded its genome specifically to understand its capacity to make these value-added lipids.