Query: NC_010688:3229820 Xanthomonas campestris pv. campestris, complete genome
Lineage: Xanthomonas campestris; Xanthomonas; Xanthomonadaceae; Xanthomonadales; Proteobacteria; Bacteria
General Information: This genus consists of plant-specific yellow-pigmented microbes, some of which are economically important phytopathogens that devastate crops such as citrus plants, rice, beans, grape, and cotton. These organisms are almost exclusively found associated with their plant hosts and are not found free in the soil. This species is a major cause of black rot in crucifers, a disease that results in massive tissue degeneration. It also produces an extracellular polysaccharide known as xanthan, which is harvested commercially as a food stabilizing agent for use in industry.
Subject: NC_012808:2886282 Methylobacterium extorquens AM1, complete genome
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.