Query: NC_016894:2809125 Acetobacterium woodii DSM 1030 chromosome, complete genome
Lineage: Acetobacterium woodii; Acetobacterium; Eubacteriaceae; Clostridiales; Firmicutes; Bacteria
General Information: Acetobacterium woodii is a Gram positive, motile, strict anaerobic, acetogenic bacterium, that relies on Na+ as coupling ion in bioenergetic reactions. The organism can use a wide range of substrates, such as sugars, alcohols, methoxylated aromatic acids or C1 compounds. Electrons derived from these electron donors are used in the Wood-Ljungdahl-pathway where the organism fixes CO2 and produces acetate. The pathway of CO2-fixation is coupled to energy conservation via a chemiosmotic mechanism, one enzyme that seems to be involved is the Rnf complex. The produced Na+ gradient can be used to drive ATP-synthesis or flagella rotation. The ATP synthase is a member of the F1FO class of enzymes and has an unusual hybrid rotor. Can use alternative electron acceptors like the lignin degradation product caffeate.
Subject: NC_014479:509919 Bacillus subtilis subsp. spizizenii str. W23 chromosome, complete
Lineage: Bacillus subtilis; Bacillus; Bacillaceae; Bacillales; Firmicutes; Bacteria
General Information: This organism was one of the first bacteria studied, and was named Vibrio subtilis in 1835 and renamed Bacillus subtilis in 1872. It is one of the most well characterized bacterial organisms, and is a model system for cell differentiation and development. This soil bacterium can divide asymmetrically, producing an endospore that is resistant to environmental factors such as heat, acid, and salt, and which can persist in the environment for long periods of time. The endospore is formed at times of nutritional stress, allowing the organism to persist in the environment until conditions become favorable. Prior to the decision to produce the spore the bacterium might become motile, through the production of flagella, and also take up DNA from the environment through the competence system.The sporulation process is complex and involves the coordinated regulation of hundreds of genes in the genome. This initial step results in the coordinated asymmetric cellular division and endospore formation through multiple stages that produces a single spore from the mother cell.