Methylorubrum extorquens
Species of bacterium
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Methylorubrum extorquens (Methylobacterium extorquens, see below) is a species of Gram-negative bacterium from the family Methylobacteriaceae. Methylorubrum species often appear pink, and are classified as pink-pigmented facultative methylotrophs, or PPFMs.[4] The wild type has been known to use both methane and multiple carbon compounds as energy sources.[4] Specifically, M. extorquens has been observed to use primarily methanol and C1 compounds as substrates in their energy cycles.[5] It has been also observed to use lanthanides as a cofactor to increase its methanol dehydrogenase activity[6][7]
| Methylorubrum extorquens | |
|---|---|
Scientific classification  | |
| Domain: | Bacteria |
| Kingdom: | Pseudomonadati |
| Phylum: | Pseudomonadota |
| Class: | Alphaproteobacteria |
| Order: | Hyphomicrobiales |
| Family: | Methylobacteriaceae |
| Genus: | Methylorubrum |
| Species: | M. extorquens |
| Binomial name | |
| Methylorubrum extorquens (Urakami and Komagata 1984) Green and Ardley 2018[1] | |
| Synonyms[2][3] | |
| |
Nomenclature
As described on the Methylobacterium page, M. extorquens and all other Methylorubrum have been reclassified as Methylobacterium.[8] This reclassification was based upon phylogenomics, gene content, synteny, and lack of distinguishing phenotypes.
Genetic structure
After isolation from soil, M. extorquens TK 001 was found to have a single chromosome measuring 5.71-Mb.[9] The bacterium itself contains 70 genes over eight regions of the chromosome that are used for its metabolism of methanol.[10]
M. extorquens AM1 contains two xoxF genes that enable it to grow on methanol with lanthanides as a cofactor.[10] On the other hand, the mxa gene cluster[11] encodes the classical calcium-dependent methanol dehydrogenase.[12]
M. extorquens AM1 genome encodes a 47.5 kb gene of unknown function. This gene encodes an over 15,000 residue-long polypeptide along with three unique compounds that are not expressed.[12]
Chemical use
Methylorubrum extorquens uses primarily C1 and C2 compounds to grow.[10] Utilizing compounds with few carbon-carbon bonds allows the bacterium to successfully grow in environments with methanol, such as on the surface of leaves whose stomata emit methanol.[13] The ability to use methanol as both a carbon and energy source was show to be advantageous when colonizing Medicago truncatula.[14]
H4MPT-dependent formaldehyde oxidation was first isolated in M. extroquens AM1 and has been used to define if an organism is utilizing methylotrophic metabolism.[12]
Relationships with other organisms
Many bacteria within the family Methylobacteriaceae live in different biotic environments such as soils, dust, and plant leaves.[15] Some of these bacteria have been found in symbiotic relationships with the plants they inhabit in which they provide fixed nitrogen or produce vitamin B12.[15] M. extorquens also produces PhyR which plants use to regulate stress response, allowing the plant to survive in different conditions.[16] In addition to PhyR, the bacterium can produce a hormone related to overall plant and root growth.[10]
M. extorquens has been found to have a mutualistic relationship with strawberries.[17] Ultimately, M. extorquens is used to oxidize 1,2-propanediol to lactaldehyde, which is later used in chemical reactions.[18] If introduced to blooming plants, furaneol production increases, changing the way the strawberry tastes.[17]
Pathogenesis
Methylobacterium extorquens is considered to have low virulence properties in humans. The species is occasionally isolated from sterile body sites and attributed to healthcare associated infections.[19]