Query: NC_012811:1138897 Methylobacterium extorquens AM1 megaplasmid, complete sequence
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_009480:2932108 Clavibacter michiganensis subsp. michiganensis NCPPB 382, complete
Lineage: Clavibacter michiganensis; Clavibacter; Microbacteriaceae; Actinomycetales; Actinobacteria; Bacteria
General Information: Phytopathogen that causes bacterial wilt and canker of tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum). This is considered to be the most important bacterial disease of tomato causing substantial economic losses worldwide. Bacteria enter the plant by wounds on root or stem and then find their way into the xylem allowing a massive systemic colonization. The first stage of the disease is characterized by unilateral wilting of leaves. Wilting then spreads to all leaves, canker lesions develop on the stem and the plant dies. If infection occurs at a late stage of plant development, plants can survive and yield fruit that may have spots, so called bird's eyes. Often the seeds will be infected and this has been the major source for outbreaks of Clavibacter michiganensis subsp. michiganensis infections in agriculture. Members of the Clavibacter genus are known to produce antimicrobial compounds.