A novel actinobacterial strain, designated E54
T, was isolated from a hyper-arid desert soil sample collected from the Kumtagh Desert in Dunhuang, Gansu Province, China. Phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA gene sequences placed strain E54
T within the genus
Lentzea, showing highest similarity to
Lentzea waywayandensis DSM 44232
T (98.9%) and
Lentzea flava NBRC 15743
T (98.5%). However, whole-genome comparisons revealed that the average nucleotide identity (ANI) and digital DNA–DNA hybridization (dDDH) values between E54
T and these related strains were below the thresholds for species delineation. Strain E54
T exhibited typical morphological characteristics of the genus
Lentzea, forming a branched substrate. It grew optimally at 28–30 °C, pH 7.0–9.0, and tolerated up to 10% NaCl. The cell wall contained meso-diaminopimelic acid, the predominant menaquinone was MK-9(H
4), and major fatty acids included iso-C
16:0. The polar lipid profile comprised diphosphatidyl glycerol, phosphatidyl ethanolamine, phosphatidyl inositol, hydroxyphosphatidyl ethanolamine, and an unidentified lipid. The characteristic amino acid type of the cell wall was meso-DAP. Whole-cell hydrolysis experiments revealed the characteristic cell wall sugar fractions: ribose and galactose. The genome of strain E54
T is approximately 8.0 Mb with a DNA G+C content of 69.38 mol%. Genome mining revealed 39 biosynthetic gene clusters (BGCs), including non-ribosomal peptide synthetases (NRPS), polyketide synthases (PKS), terpenes, and siderophores. Comparative antiSMASH-based genome analysis across 38
Lentzea strains further demonstrated the genus’ remarkable biosynthetic diversity. NRPS and type I PKS (T1PKS) were the most prevalent BGC types, indicating a capacity to synthesize structurally complex and pharmacologically relevant metabolites. Together, these findings underscore the untapped biosynthetic potential of the genus
Lentzea and support the proposal of strain E54
T as a novel species. The strain E54
T (=JCM 34936
T = GDMCC 4.216
T) should represent a novel species, for which the name
Lentzea xerophila sp. nov. is proposed.
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