Carotenoid-Producing Paracoccus aurantius sp. nov., Isolated from the West Coast of Dokdo Island, Republic of Korea.

Abstract

In this study, a novel species within the genus Paracoccus was isolated from the coastal soil of Dokdo (Seodo) Island and investigated. We elucidated the novel species, designated MBLB3053^T, through genomic analysis of novel functional microbial resources. Cells were gram-negative, non-motile, and coccoid, and the colony was light orange in color. Phylogenetic analysis based on the 16S rRNA gene showed that strain MBLB3053^T was related to the genus Paracoccus, with 98.5% similarity to Paracoccus aestuariivivens. Comparative genome analysis also revealed the strain to be a novel species of the genus Paracoccus by average nucleotide identity and in silico DNA-DNA hybridization values. Through secondary metabolite analysis, terpene biosynthetic gene clusters associated with carotenoid biosynthesis were found in strain MBLB3053^T. Using high-performance liquid chromatography, strain MBLB3053^T was confirmed to produce carotenoids, including all-trans-astaxanthin, by comparison to the standard compound. Notably, the isolate was also confirmed to produce carotenoids that other closely related species did not produce. Based on this comprehensive polyphasic taxonomy, strain MBLB3053^T represents a novel species within the genus Paracoccus, for which the name Paracoccus aurantius sp. nov is proposed. The type strain was MBL3053^T (=KCTC 8269^T =JCM 36634^T). These findings support the research and resource value of this novel species, which was isolated from the Dokdo environmental microbiome.