Genomic Insights and Functional Analysis Reveal Plant Growth Promotion Traits of Paenibacillus mucilaginosus G78

Paenibacillus mucilaginosus has widely been reported as a plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR). However, the important genomic insights into plant growth promotion in this species remain undescribed. In this study, the genome of P. mucilaginosus G78 was sequenced using Illumina NovaSeq PE150. It contains 8,576,872 bp with a GC content of 58.5%, and was taxonomically characterized. Additionally, a total of 7337 genes with 143 tRNAs, 41 rRNAs, and 5 ncRNAs were identified. This strain can prohibit the growth of the plant pathogen, but also has the capability to form biofilm, solubilize phosphate, and produce IAA. Twenty-six gene clusters encoding secondary metabolites were identified, and the genotypic characterization indirectly proved its resistant ability to ampicillin, bacitracin, polymyxin and chloramphenicol. The putative exopolysaccharide biosynthesis and biofilm formation gene clusters were explored. According to the genetic features, the potential monosaccharides of its exopolysaccharides for P. mucilaginosus G78 may include glucose, mannose, galactose, fucose, that can probably be acetylated and pyruvated. Conservation of the pelADEFG compared with other 40 Paenibacillus species suggests that Pel may be specific biofilm matrix component in P. mucilaginosus. Several genes relevant to plant growth-promoting traits, i.e., IAA production and phosphate solubilization are well conserved compared with other 40 other Paenibacillus strains. The current study can benefit for understanding the plant growth-promoting traits of P. mucilaginosus as well as its potential application in agriculture as PGPR.

Bioleaching of silicon in electrolytic manganese residue (EMR) by Paenibacillus mucilaginosus: Impact of silicate mineral structures

Electrolytic manganese residue (EMR) is characterized by high silicon content, and thus, is an important silicon source. While considerable research has been conducted on bioleaching EMR for silicon recovery, sufficient information is not available on the impact of specific silicate mineral structures in EMR on silicon bioleaching. In the present study, the mineral composition of EMR was determined firstly, and then the leaching effect of Paenibacillus mucilaginosus on these different silicate minerals were investigated by shake flask experiments. Results showed that the silicon in EMR was mainly composed of quartz, sericite, muscovite, biotite, olivine and rhodonite; Paenibacillus mucilaginosus had a significantly different weathering and decomposition effects on different silicate minerals. Among them, sericite, muscovite and biotite with layered structure had the most obvious silicon leaching effect, followed by rhodonite with island structure, while silicon leaching from olivine with chained structure and quartz with frame structure was much more difficult. One can roughly judge the adaptability of bioleaching of silicon in EMR using Paenibacillus mucilaginosus if the main form of silicate minerals in EMR is determined.

Characterization and homology modelling of a novel multi-modular and multi-functional Paenibacillus mucilaginosus glycoside hydrolase

Glycoside hydrolases, particularly cellulases, xylanases and mannanases, are essential for the depolymerisation of lignocellulosic substrates in various industrial bio-processes. In the present study, a novel glycoside hydrolase from Paenibacillus mucilaginosus (PmGH) was expressed in E. coli, purified and characterised. Functional analysis indicated that PmGH is a 130 kDa thermophilic multi-modular and multi-functional enzyme, comprising a GH5, a GH6 and two CBM3 domains and exhibiting cellulase, mannanase and xylanase activities. The enzyme displayed optimum hydrolytic activities at pH 6 and 60 °C and moderate thermostability. Homology modelling of the full-length protein highlighted the structural and functional novelty of native PmGH, with no close structural homologs identified. However, homology modelling of the individual GH5, GH6 and the two CBM3 domains yielded excellent models based on related structures from the Protein Data Bank. The catalytic GH5 and GH6 domains displayed a (β/α)₈ and a distorted seven stranded (β/α) fold, respectively. The distinct homology at the domain level but low homology of the full-length protein suggests that this protein evolved by exogenous gene acquisition and recombination.

Production and Characterization of Antioxidant Properties of Exopolysaccharide(s) from Peanibacillus mucilaginosus TKU032

Natural polysaccharides have received much attention due to their wide range of applications. Although most microbial exopolysaccharides (EPSs) use sugars as the major carbon source, such as glucose or sucrose, in this study, EPSs were induced from a squid pen powder (SPP)-containing medium by Paenibacillus mucilaginosus TKU032, a bacterial strain isolated from Taiwanese soil. Under the optimal culture conditions, the maximum EPS yield (14.8 g/L) was obtained. MALDI-TOF MS analysis of an EPS fraction purified by gel filtration revealed two mass peaks with molecular weights of ∼1.05 × 10⁴ and ∼1.35 × 10⁴ Da, respectively. The analysis of the hydrolysates of TKU032 EPS with cellulase, pectinase or α-amylase indicated that the glycosidic bond of TKU032 EPS is most likely an α-1,4 glycosidic bond and the hydrolysates are similar to those of starch. In addition, the purified EPS demonstrated strong antioxidant abilities.

Feasibility of EPS-producing bacterial inoculation to speed up the sand aggregation in the Gurbantunggut Desert, Northwestern China

Exopolymers are known to be useful in improving sand aggregation and the development of biological soil crusts (BSCs). A facultative bacterium KLBB0001 was isolated from BSCs in the Gurbantunggut Desert in northwestern China. With the strong effective production of extracellular polymeric substances (EPS), this strain exhibits a multifunctional role for sand stabilization and maintenance of water under laboratory conditions. Practical testing of the feasibility of its inoculation to speed up BSC recovery in the field was also conducted in this experiment. This strain stimulated the heterotrophic community assembly in the topsoil layer (0-2 cm) before the commencement of autotrophic cyanobacteria, while also significantly increasing the number of bacteria, actinomycetes, and content of total phosphorus, available nitrogen, and available phosphorus. However, the low nitrogenase activity (NA) (0.57 µmol/h) that was observed caused us to doubt the previous identification as Azotobacter Beijerinck that was based on physiological and biochemical properties. A phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA gene sequences revealed that this strain was a member of the genus Paenibacillus. It exhibited the closest phylogenetic affinity and highest sequence similarity to the strain Paenibacillus mucilaginosus VKPM B-7519 (sequence similarity 99.698%), which is well known as a typical silicate-weathering bacteria that releases lots of nutritional ions from minerals and the soil. Because P. mucilaginosus can excrete carbonic anhydrase (CA) to capture atmospheric CO2 through hydration of CO2 , it is possible that KLBB0001 might use a similar strategy for heterotrophs in the BSCs to sequester CO2 from the air. Because of its potential role in the reestablishment of the BSC ecosystem due to its ability to improve water relations, sand stabilization, and chemical erosion, EPS-producing bacterial inoculation was concluded to be a suitable and effective treatment for BSC recovery, especially in environments with limited water and nutrients.