Query: NC_008686:1960034 Paracoccus denitrificans PD1222 chromosome 1, complete sequence
Lineage: Paracoccus denitrificans; Paracoccus; Rhodobacteraceae; Rhodobacterales; Proteobacteria; Bacteria
General Information: This organism is commonly found in soil and sewage sludge. This organism is able to survive in both aerobic and anaerobic environments due to its ability to use both oxygen and nitrogenous oxides making it a popular model organism for the study of electron transfer and and energy conservation.
Subject: NC_012808:420334 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.