Genomic Analysis Provides New Insights Into Biotechnological and Industrial Potential of Parageobacillus thermantarcticus M1

Parageobacillus thermantarcticus strain M1 is a Gram-positive, motile, facultativeanaerobic, spore forming, and thermophilic bacterium, isolated from geothermalsoil of the crater of Mount Melbourne (74o220 S, 164o400 E) during the ItalianAntarctic Expedition occurred in Austral summer 1986-1987. Strain M1 demonstratedgreat biotechnological and industrial potential owing to its ability to produceexopolysaccharides (EPSs), ethanol and thermostable extracellular enzymes, such as anxylanase and a ?-xylosidase, and intracellular ones, such as xylose/glucose isomeraseand protease. Furthermore, recent studies revealed its high potential in green chemistrydue to its use in residual biomass transformation/valorization and as an appropriatemodel for microbial astrobiology studies. In the present study, using a systems-basedapproach, genomic analysis of P. thermantarcticus M1 was carried out to enlightenits functional characteristics. The elucidation of whole-genome organization of thisthermophilic cell factory increased our understanding of biological mechanisms andpathways, by providing valuable information on the essential genes related to thebiosynthesis of nucleotide sugar precursors, monosaccharide unit assembly, as wellas the production of EPSs and ethanol. In addition, gene prediction and genomeannotation studies identified genes encoding xylanolytic enzymes that are required forthe conversion of lignocellulosic materials to high-value added molecules. Our findingspointed out the significant potential of strain M1 in various biotechnological and industrialapplications considering its capacity to produce EPSs, ethanol and thermostableenzymes via the utilization of lignocellulosic waste materials.