Query: NC_009953:3852436 Salinispora arenicola CNS-205 chromosome, complete genome Lineage: Salinispora arenicola; Salinispora; Micromonosporaceae; Actinomycetales; Actinobacteria; Bacteria General Information: Found in marine sediment, this organism produces cancer-fighting compounds. Salinispora strains are commonly isolated from tropical marine sediment. Members of this genus produce branched hyphae and require media which contain seawater or sodium. A survey of the cultured species identified over 90 isolates which produce compounds that inhibited cancer cells. These organisms may be a new source of bioactive chemicals for use in disease and cancer treatments. Salinispora arenicola produces the bioactive compounds staurosporine and rifamycin which may be useful in the treatment of cancer.
- Sequence; - BLASTP hit: hover for score (Low score = Light, High score = Dark); - hypothetical protein; - cds: hover for description
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.