Query: NC_012808:1122341 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_008228:372520 Pseudoalteromonas atlantica T6c, complete genome
Lineage: Pseudoalteromonas atlantica; Pseudoalteromonas; Pseudoalteromonadaceae; Alteromonadales; Proteobacteria; Bacteria
General Information: Isolated from a biofilm from San Diego Bay in California. Marine biofilm bacterium associated with shell disease in shellfish. A common marine bacterium that exists both in the water column, and in biofilms attached to surfaces. This organism produces a well characterized, commercially important agarase. Pseudoalteromonas atlantica has been isolated from lesions on crabs with shell disease. Shell disease is characterized by progressive degradation of the shell, often leading to an infection of the hemolymph (blood) and may be caused by Pseudoalteromonas, Alteromonas, Vibrio, or other marine organisms. In addition to producing extracellular enzymes which attack the shell, Pseudoalteromonas atlantica produces a the lipopolysaccharide which has been shown to be a potential virulence factor in shell disease.