molecules Article Genome-Based Insights into the Production of Carotenoids by Antarctic Bacteria, Planococcus sp. ANT_H30 and Rhodococcus sp. ANT_H53B Michal Styczynski 1 , Agata Rogowska 2 , Katarzyna Gieczewska 3 , Maciej Garstka 4 , Anna Szakiel 2 and Lukasz Dziewit 1,* 1 Department of Environmental Microbiology and Biotechnology, Institute of Microbiology, Faculty of Biology, University of Warsaw, Miecznikowa 1, 02-096 Warsaw, Poland;
[email protected] 2 Department of Plant Biochemistry, Institute of Biochemistry, Faculty of Biology, University of Warsaw, Miecznikowa 1, 02-096 Warsaw, Poland;
[email protected] (A.R.);
[email protected] (A.S.) 3 Department of Plant Anatomy and Cytology, Institute of Experimental Plant Biology and Biotechnology, Faculty of Biology, University of Warsaw, Miecznikowa 1, 02-096 Warsaw, Poland;
[email protected] 4 Department of Metabolic Regulation, Institute of Biochemistry, Faculty of Biology, University of Warsaw, Miecznikowa 1, 02-096 Warsaw, Poland;
[email protected] * Correspondence:
[email protected]; Tel.: +48-225-541-406 Academic Editors: Daniel Krug and Lena Keller Received: 29 August 2020; Accepted: 21 September 2020; Published: 23 September 2020 Abstract: Antarctic regions are characterized by low temperatures and strong UV radiation. This harsh environment is inhabited by psychrophilic and psychrotolerant organisms, which have developed several adaptive features. In this study, we analyzed two Antarctic bacterial strains, Planococcus sp. ANT_H30 and Rhodococcus sp. ANT_H53B. The physiological analysis of these strains revealed their potential to produce various biotechnologically valuable secondary metabolites, including surfactants, siderophores, and orange pigments. The genomic characterization of ANT_H30 and ANT_H53B allowed the identification of genes responsible for the production of carotenoids and the in silico reconstruction of the pigment biosynthesis pathways.