Query: NC_008269:868000 Rhodococcus sp. RHA1 plasmid pRHL1, complete sequence
Lineage: Rhodococcus jostii; Rhodococcus; Nocardiaceae; Actinomycetales; Actinobacteria; Bacteria
General Information: This strain was isolated from soil contaminated with gamma-hexachlorocyclohexane (lindane: a toxic insecticide) in Japan. Polychlorinated biphenyl degrading bacterium. Rhodococcus jostii is capable of degrading a wide variety of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), which are toxic compounds produced by industry, and is studied extensively for this reason. This microbe is being examined thoroughly under different environmental conditions in order to better understand metabolic pathways and gene functions.
Subject: NC_012808:157156 Methylobacterium extorquens AM1, complete genome
Lineage: Methylobacterium extorquens; Methylobacterium; Methylobacteriaceae; Rhizobiales; Proteobacteria; Bacteria
General Information: First isolated in 1960 in Oxford, England, as an airborne contaminant growing on methylamine. This strain can grow on methylamine or methanol, but not methane. This organism is capable of growth on one-carbon compounds such as methanol. Methanol is oxidized to formaldehyde which is then used metabolically to generate either energy or biomass. These bacteria are commonly found in the environment, especially associated with plants which produce methanol when metabolizing pectin during cell wall synthesis. At least 25 genes are required for this complex process of converting methanol to formaldehyde and this specialized metabolic pathway is of great interest.