Query: NC_007426:2248000 Natronomonas pharaonis DSM 2160, complete genome
Lineage: Natronomonas pharaonis; Natronomonas; Halobacteriaceae; Halobacteriales; Euryarchaeota; Archaea
General Information: Isolated from Lake Gabara in Egypt. Extreme haloalkaliphilic archeon. Natronomonas pharaonis is able to survive at high salt and pH conditions which results in limited nitrogen availability through ammonium. In order to compensate for this, Natronomonas pharaonis has developed three systems to promote nitrogen assimilation: direct uptake of ammonia, uptake of nitrate, and uptake of urea. Another problem with high pH environments is the use of a proton gradient for the generation of ATP, which other alkaliphiles have adapted to by substitution of sodium ions for protons. However, this organism utilizes protons for ATP generation as determined by experimental data.
Subject: NC_009138:3153576 Herminiimonas arsenicoxydans, complete genome
Lineage: Herminiimonas arsenicoxydans; Herminiimonas; Oxalobacteraceae; Burkholderiales; Proteobacteria; Bacteria
General Information: Herminiimonas arsenicoxydans was isolated from heavy metal contaminated sludge from an industrial water treatment plant. This organism has a number of mechanisms for metabolizing arsenic allowing it to effectively colonize arsenic-contaminated environments. A bacterium capable of oxidizing and reducing arsenic. This heterotrophic bacterium is capable of reducing and oxidizing arsenic with the objective of detoxification. Arsenic is both a product from natural sources and of human activities, and is widely distributed in the environment, essentially in 3 different oxidation states: As (-III) (arsine), As (+III) (arsenite) and As (+V) (arseniate). The ecology of this metalloid is strongly dependent on microbial transformations which affect the mobility and bioavailability as well as the toxicity of arsenic in the environment.