Arthrobacter terrae sp. nov., a psychrophilic actinobacterium with multi copies of capA gene isolated from Antarctic soil

A Gram-staining-positive, non-spore-forming, non-flagellated, ellipsoidal, strain Z1-20( T) belonging to the genus Arthrobacter was isolated from a soil sample collected from the Zhongshan station, Antarctic. Phylogenetic analysis of the 16S rRNA gene sequences and phylogenetic analysis revealed that strain Z1-20( T) formed a unique single cluster in the genus Arthrobacter and shared high 16S rRNA sequence similarities of 97.1% and 96.9% with A. glacialis HLT2-12-2( T) and A. psychrochitiniphilus GP3(T), respectively. Values of Digital DNA-DNA hybridization (dDDH) between strain Z1-20( T) against A. glacialis HLT2-12-2( T) and A. psychrochitiniphilus GP3(T) were 20.3% and 13.8%, respectively. Average nucleotide identity (ANI) score between strain Z1-20( T) against A. glacialis HLT2-12-2( T) and A. psychrochitiniphilus GP3(T) were 72.5% and 72.1%, respectively. Genes for the synthesis of the osmoprotectant glycine betaine and higher copies of capA gene encoding cold shock protein were found in genome of Z1-20( T) that may help Z1-20( T) in cold-adaptation. Strain Z1-20( T) comprised lysine as the diagnostic diamino acid. Based on the results of phylogenetic, phenotypic and chemotaxonomic features, strain Z1-20( T) represents a novel species of a novel taxon of genus Arthrobacter, for which the name Arthrobacter terrae gen. nov., sp. nov. is proposed.

Automated summary

Strain Z1-20(T) isolated from soil sample collected from Zhongshan station, Antarctic belongs to the genus Arthrobacter and forms a unique single cluster within the genus. The genome of strain Z1-20(T) contains genes for the synthesis of osmoprotectant glycine betaine and cold shock protein, which may contribute to its cold adaptation.