Genomic analysis of Microbulbifer sp. Q7 exhibiting degradation activity toward seaweed polysaccharides

Abstract Microbulbifer sp. Q7 (= CGMCC 14061), which has the ability to degrade seaweed polysaccharides, was isolated from the gut of sea cucumber. The genome of Microbulbifer sp. Q7 was sequenced, and the organism was found to contain 3,953,171 bp with a G + C content of 58.36%. A total of 3131 protein-coding sequences were predicted, including seven agarases (EC 3.2.1.81) and five alginate lyases (EC 4.2.2.3). These results reveal that Microbulbifer sp. Q7 have potential to degrade seaweed polysaccharides. Finally, the genome sequence of Microbulbifer sp. Q7 provides the fundamental genomic information for future studies on novel depolymerase enzymes of seaweed polysaccharides.