Azotobacter vinelandii is a free-living nitrogen-fixing bacterium of the
gamma-proteobacteria group. It is found in soils world-wide, with features
of nitrogen and energy metabolism relevant to agriculture. This organism
has been studied for more than 100 years by numerous scientists
throughout the world. Prior to Joshua Lederberg's discovery of sexuality
in Escherichia coli, A. vinelandii was the experimental organism of
choice for many investigators during the emergence of biochemistry as a
dominant discipline within the life sciences. Examples include the
classical Lineweaver-Burk kinetic parameters, developed using
enzymes from A. vinelandii and the isolation of polynucleotide
phosphorylase from A. vinelandii by Severo Ochoa, which was used in studies
that contributed to the elucidation of the genetic code. Today it is still
used as a major bacterial model for biochemistry studies in numerous
laboratories around the world.
This project has two interrelated goals:
- The production of a finished, well-annotated genome sequence of
Azotobacter vinelandii strain DJ;
- Expansion of existing undergraduate training platform in genomics
technology at both participating and off-site institutions.
In line
with these goals this project brings together extensive expertise from
five independent groups with significant experience in Azotobacter
biology, genomics, bioinformatics, and undergraduate education.
A key component of this project is geared towards expanding and
enhancing our existing training platform in genomics technology for
undergraduate researchers at both participating and off-site
institutions. Undergraduate researchers were integrated into all
aspects of the project, both within the classroom and as independent
research projects, including finishing, annotation, bioinformatics and
analytical phases. Such participation provided critical training for
new scientists in the field of genomics and bioinformatics, and was a
key component by which we addressed project goals.
The broader impacts of the proposed activities include:
- fostering genomic-level and traditional research directions geared toward
understanding Azotobacter biology and its role as a model system by
which to study nitrogen-fixation;
- a better understanding of
evolutionary relationships in the Pseudomonadaceae family;
and
- increased access to cutting edge genomics education for undergraduate
researchers across the country.
