Xanthorhodopsin Encoding Genes in Hight Altitude Lake

Abstract

Studies in Hight Altitude Andean Lake (HAAL) were focused mainly on microbial diversity, arsenic resistence, UV radiation and antibiotic [1-3]. In this study, we attempted to determine how the light is used as energy source in these ecosystems.We identified proton-pumping rhodopsins encoding gene sequences in the genomes of three novel Salinivibrio spp. Strains. The aminoacid sequences were related to the xanthorhodopsin (XR) from Salinibacter ruber, 45% identity average. We observed the presence of the genes for β-carotene and retinal biosynthesis. Also, XR S34 contain the majority of functionally important residues known for retinal binding, proton transport and structure (Figure 1)[4, 5].In the present study we disclosed for the first time, XR-like genes in HAAL and the unusual occurrence in Salinivibrio. The presence of these genes could improve the ecological fitness of the three novel Salinivibrio strains that live in the Socompa Lake.