Pseudomonas furukawaii ZS1, isolated from grass carp (Ctenopharyngodon idellus) culture water, exhibits efficient aerobic nitrate reduction without nitrite accumulation; however, the molecular pathway underlying this aerobic nitrate reduction remains unclear. In this study, we constructed a complete genome map of P. furukawaii ZS1 and performed a comparative genomic analysis with a reference strain. The results showed that P. furukawaii ZS1 genome was 6 026 050 bp in size and contained 5427 predicted protein-coding sequences. The genome contained all the necessary genes for the dissimilatory nitrate reduction to ammonia pathway but lacked those for the assimilatory nitrate reduction pathway; additionally, genes that convert ammonia to organic nitrogen were also identified. The presence of putative genes associated with the nitrogen and oxidative phosphorylation pathways implied that ZS1 can perform respiration and nitrate reduction simultaneously under aerobic conditions, so that nitrite is rapidly consumed for detoxication by denitrification. The aim of this study is to indicate the great potential of strain ZS1 for future full-scale applications in aquaculture. This work provided insights at the molecular level on the nitrogen metabolic pathways in Pseudomonas species. The understanding of nitrogen metabolic pathways also provides significant molecular information for further Pseudomonas species modification and development.
Keywords: Pseudomonas furukawaii ZS1; aerobic conditions; aerobic nitrate reduction; culture water; organic nitrogen.