Query: NC_008686:1960034 Paracoccus denitrificans PD1222 chromosome 1, complete sequence Lineage: Paracoccus denitrificans; Paracoccus; Rhodobacteraceae; Rhodobacterales; Proteobacteria; Bacteria General Information: This organism is commonly found in soil and sewage sludge. This organism is able to survive in both aerobic and anaerobic environments due to its ability to use both oxygen and nitrogenous oxides making it a popular model organism for the study of electron transfer and and energy conservation.
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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.