Query: NC_012808:806432 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.
Subject: NC_007406:632436 Nitrobacter winogradskyi Nb-255, complete genome
Lineage: Nitrobacter winogradskyi; Nitrobacter; Bradyrhizobiaceae; Rhizobiales; Proteobacteria; Bacteria
General Information: Nitrite-oxidizing bacterium. Members of this genus are found in marine, freshwater, and terrestrial habitats, often in association with ammonia-oxidizing bacteria. These organisms oxidize nitrate, generated by the oxidation of ammonia, to nitrate and play an important role in the global nitrogen cycle. The enzyme involved in nitrite oxidation, nitrite oxidoreductase, can also reduce nitrate to nitrite in the absence of oxygen, allowing Nitrobacter sp. to grow anaerobically. Nitrobacter winogradskyi is commonly isolated from soil, fresh and sea water, sewage, and compost. This organism can grow anaerobically using nitrate as the electron acceptor, forming nitrite, nitric oxide, and nitrous oxide.