Query: NC_012808:806432 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.
Subject: NC_006624:2016000 Thermococcus kodakarensis KOD1, complete genome
Lineage: Thermococcus kodakarensis; Thermococcus; Thermococcaceae; Thermococcales; Euryarchaeota; Archaea
General Information: This organism was originally identified as Pyrococcus sp. strain KOD1. It was isolated from a solfatara on Kodakara Island, Japan. Hyperthermophilic archeon. This genus is a member of the order Thermococcales in the Euryarchaeota. Thermococcus sp. are the most commonly isolated hyperthermophilic organisms and are often isolated from marine hydrothermal vents and terrestrial hot sulfur springs. Elemental sulfur is either required for, or stimulates, growth. These obligate heterotrophs can ferment a variety of organic compounds, including peptides, amino acids, and sugars in the absence of sulfur. Thermococcus kodakaraensis is a hyperthermophilic archeon. Proteins from this organism have been extensively studied to find thermostable enzymes for industrial and biotechnological applications.