Ralstonia eutropha

A Microbial Biorealm page on the genus Ralstonia eutropha

Classification

Higher order taxa

Domain:Bacteria

Phylum:Proteobacteria

Class: Betaproteobacteria

Order: Burkholderiales

Family:Burkholderiaceae

Genus: Cupriavidus/Ralstonia/Wautersia

Species

Genus Species synonym and strains:

1. Cupriavidus necator

2. Wautersia eutropha

3. Ralstonia eutropha

    a. Ralstonia eutropha JMP 134
    b. Ralstonia eutropha H850
    c. Ralstonia eutropha H16 

NCBI: Taxonomy

NCBI: [1]

Description and significance

Ralstonia eutropha JMP 134 can be found in both soil and water. This bacterium has great potential for use in bioremediation as it is able to degrade an great number of chlorinated aromatic (chloroaromatic) compounds and chemically related pollutants. Ralstonia eutropha H16 was formerly known as Alcaligenes eutrophus which was originally isolated from sludge. Ralstonia eutropha JMP 134 and other strains belonging to this species are models for studying microbial production of “polyhydroxyalkanoates, and chemolithoautotrophic metabolism in aerobic heterotrophs.(JGI)” Ralstonia eutropha strains can utilize hydrogen, carbon dioxide and organic compounds for development and is model organism for hydrogen oxidation because it can nurture on hydrogen as the sole energy source. Ralstonia eutropha JMP 134 was isolated dues to its ability to degrade the herbicide 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid, which was encoded on plasmid as having the function of degrading.

Genome structure

Ralstonia eutropha JMP 134 has one megaplasmid, two chromosomes and plasmid pJP4. Megaplasmid has 60.6% of G-C (guanine and cytosine) content (a way to characterize genes), 512 proteins and one RNA at the length of 634917 bp (base pair). Chromosome 1 has 64.7% G-C content, 3439 proteins and 66 RNA at the length of 380653 bp. Chromosome 2 has 65.0% of G-C content, 2407 proteins and 20 RNA at the length of 272615 bp. Plasmid pJP4 has 64.7% G-C content, 88 proteins and no RNA found so far at the length of 87688 bp.

Ralstonia eutropha H16 has one megaplasmid pHG1 and two chromosomes. Megaplasmid pHG1 had 62.3% G-C content and 420 proteins at the length of 45000 bp. Chromosome 1 has 66.5% G-C content, 3651 proteins and 60 RNA at the length of 405203 bp. Chromosome 2 has 66.8% G-C content, 2555 proteins and 13 RNA at the length of 290000 bp.

Cell structure and metabolism

This microbe has a unique cell membrane that contains tetraether lipids. It lacks any kind of cell wall, which causes it to have irregular shapes and is capable of assuming different shapes. The microbe uses multiple flagella for high motility. Thermoplasma volcanium is heterotrophic and therefore requires it to obtain nutrients from other organisms especially those who cannot survive in acidic or high temperature environments. Depending on its living conditions, the microbe is both anaerobic and aerobic. It is anaerobic in the presence of elemental sulfur.

Ecology

Due to its evolutionary ties to eukaryotes, Thermoplasma genus can be used as model organism for researches.

Pathology

There is no known pathogen among different strains of Ralstonia eutropha.

Application to Biotechnology

Does this organism produce any useful compounds or enzymes? What are they and how are they used?

Current Research

Enter summaries of the most recent research here--at least three required

References

[JGI] [2]

Edited by student of Rachel Larsen and Kit Pogliano