Antioxidant prodigiosin-producing cold-adapted Janthinobacterium sp. ERMR3:09 from a glacier moraine: Genomic elucidation of cold adaptation and pigment biosynthesis.

ABSTRACT

Janthinobacterium from cold niches has been studied broadly for bioactive violacein production. However, reports on the atypical red-pigmented Janthinobacterium strains are shallow. The bioactive red prodigiosin pigment has immense pharmacological significance, including antioxidant, antimicrobial and anticancer potential. Here, we report the first complete genome of a prodigiosin-producing Janthinobacterium sp. ERMR309 from Sikkim Himalaya in an attempt to elucidate its cold adaptation and prodigiosin biosynthesis. Nanopore sequencing and Flye assembly of the ERMR309 genome resulted in a single contig of 6,262,330 bp size and 62.26% GC content. Phylogenomic analysis and genome indices indicate that ERMR309 is a potentially novel species of the genus Janthinobacterium. The multicopy cold-responsive genes and gene upregulation under cold stress denoted its cold adaptation mechanisms. Genome analysis identified the unique genes, gene cluster and pathway for prodigiosin biosynthesis in ERMR309. Considering the notable antioxidant activity, it can be the next powerhouse of bioactive prodigiosin production.