Draft Genome Sequence of the Electricigen Acidiphilium

Acidiphilium sp. strain PM (DSM 24941) was isolated from Rio Tinto’s acidic, heavy metal-rich waters. Voltammetry experiments revealed that this strain is capable of electricity production even under aerobic conditions. Here we report the draft genome sequence of Acidiphilium sp. PM and a preliminary genome analysis that reveals a versatile respiratory metabolism. Acidiphilium sp. strain PM (DSM 24941) was isolated from Rio Tinto, a naturally acidic, heavy metal-rich river located in southwestern Spain (3). Bacteria of the genus Acidiphilium are facultatively aerobic, acidophilic, Gram-negative Alphaproteo-bacteria capable of synthesizing Zn-chelated bacteriochloro-phyll a (Zn-BChl a) (4, 6). All known Acidiphilium species can grow chemoorganotrophically, but only A. acidophilum has been described to be capable of obtaining energy from reduced inorganic sulfur compounds. The decision to sequence the genome of Acidiphilium sp. PM followed the discovery of sev-eral biotechnologically relevant properties, especially its capac