Nitrococcus mobilis
Classification
Domain: Bacteria Phylum: Proteobacteria Class: Gammaproteobacteria Order: Chromatiales Family: Ectothiorhodospiraceae
Species
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NCBI: Taxonomy |
Nitrococcus mobilis
Description and Significance
Describe the appearance, habitat, etc. of the organism, and why you think it is important.
Genome Structure
Describe the size and content of the genome. How many chromosomes? Circular or linear? Other interesting features? What is known about its sequence?
Cell Structure, Metabolism and Life Cycle
Interesting features of cell structure; how it gains energy; what important molecules it produces.
Nitrococcus mobilis is an obligate chemoautotroph. The energy required for metabolism comes from chemical reactions of reducing nitrogen from nitrite to nitrate. They are aerobic as oxygen is the final electron acceptor. Inorganic carbon is its carbon source, making it an autotroph.
When free floating in the ocean, Nitrococcus mobilis exists as a single or diploid cell. If the cells can form a biofilm then several hundred will form aggregates on a slime layer.
The cell is a cocci with a diameter of 1.5 to 1.7 micrometers after division. Nitrococcus mobilis is the only nitrifier that is coccus. A 3-4 micrometer long flagella aids in mobility when the cell is free floating. If apart of a biofilm, the flagella is lost and the only mode of movement is by rolling which often lacks a direction. Nitrococcus mobilis is gram negative as it has an outer cell membrane surrounding a multilayered cell wall. In the cytosol of Nitrococcus mobilis is a unique cytomembrane system. This tubuler system is continuous with the plasma membrane. The plasma membrane will invagenate, at what appears to be randomly distributed, to form the tubes. The tubes themselves are 6-8 nm in diameter and are formed by a double tracked cytomembrane. Electron microscopy has shown that the tubes do have contents in them. Other distinct structures in the cytosol are inclusion bodies
Ecology and Pathogenesis
Habitat; symbiosis; biogeochemical significance; contributions to environment.
If relevant, how does this organism cause disease? Human, animal, plant hosts? Virulence factors, as well as patient symptoms.
References
Author
Page authored by _____, student of Prof. Jay Lennon at Michigan State University.
