Azoarcus
A Microbial Biorealm page on the genus Azoarcus
Classification
Higher order taxa:
Bacteria; Proteobacteria; Betaproteobacteria; Rhodocyclales; Rhodocyclaceae; Azoarcus
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NCBI: Taxonomy Genome |
Description and Significance
Azoarcus evansii is a species of proteobacteria; rod-shaped cells with polar flagella, which is associated with plants. This species is notable because of its interesting system of metabolic pathways. Because it is an aerobic aromatic bacterium, it is useful to scientists working to learn more about the enzymes utilized in the metabolism process.
Cell Structure and Metabolism
Azoarcus evansii 's mode of metabolism has been closely scrutinized by scientists who discovered that many of the normal bacterial pathways were not in evidence in this organism. Two independent catabolic pathways function to convert benzoate to benzoyl-CoA. This process is followed by an attack by an oxygenase, and concludes with a non-oxygenolytic fission of the ring. Proteins involved in metabolism number more than 150. Studies have been done on a number of the enzymes and proteins associated with the metabolic processes, in order to better understand and even put to use Azoarcus evansii's mode of generating energy. The morphology of the cells are rod-shaped with rounded ends, which are 1.5 - 3 microns long and 0.6 - 0.8 microns wide. Each cell is motile by way of a single flagellum, located subpolarly.
Ecology
Data gathered from cultured Azoarcus evansii shows that this species grows optimally at 37ºC with a pH of 7.8.
