Query: NC_017325:1488841 Sinorhizobium meliloti SM11 chromosome, complete genome
Lineage: Sinorhizobium meliloti; Sinorhizobium; Rhizobiaceae; Rhizobiales; Proteobacteria; Bacteria
General Information: This organism, much like other Rhizobia, forms a symbiotic relationship with a leguminous plant, in this case the alfalfa plant (Medicago sativa). Expression of nodulation genes results in production of a nodulation signal which the plant cell recognizes inducing root nodule formation. The plant cell provides carbon compounds for the bacterium to grow on.
Subject: NC_012811:317308 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.