Query: NC_012988:670101 Methylobacterium extorquens DM4, complete genome
Lineage: Methylobacterium extorquens; Methylobacterium; Methylobacteriaceae; Rhizobiales; Proteobacteria; Bacteria
General Information: Methylobacterium extorquens DM4 was isolated from soil contaminated with halogenated (chlorine-containing) hydrocarbons. This organism is able to use dichloromethane as a sole carbon and energy source. Dichloromethane, an industrial solvent, is toxic and carcinogenic. This compound is water soluble and can easily contaminate groundwater. Methylobacterium chloromethanicum was isolated from soil at a petrochemical factory in Tatarstan, Russia. This organism is able to grow using chloromethane as the sole carbon and energy source.
Subject: NC_012560:2546000 Azotobacter vinelandii DJ, complete genome
Lineage: Azotobacter vinelandii; Azotobacter; Pseudomonadaceae; Pseudomonadales; Proteobacteria; Bacteria
General Information: This organism was first isolated from the soil in Vineland, New Jersey, although it is found worldwide. It is a large obligate aerobe that has one of the highest respiratory rates of any organism. Azotobacter vinelandii also produces a number of unusual nitrogenases which allow it to fix atmospheric nitrogen to ammonia, a compound it can then use as a nitrogen source. It protects the oxygen-sensitive nitrogenase enzymes through its high respiratory rate, which sequesters the nitrogenase complexes in an anoxic environment. This organism has a number of unusual characteristics. Under extreme environmental conditions, the cell will produce a cyst that is resistant to dessication and is surrounded by two capsular polysaccharide layers. This organism produces two industrially important polysaccharides, poly-beta-hydroxybutyrate (PHB) and alginate. PHB is a thermoplastic biopolymer, and alginate is used in the food industry. Alginate is also used by the pathogen Pseudomonas aeruginosa to infect the lungs of cystic fibrosis patients.