Mycoplasma mobile 163K

Mycoplasma_mobile
Names Mycoplasma mobile 163K
Accession numbers NC_006908
Background Mycoplasmas are members of the class Mollicutes, a large group of bacteria that lack a cell wall and have a characteristically low G+C content. These diverse organisms are parasites in a wide range of hosts, including humans, animals, insects, plants, and cells grown in tissue culture. Aside from their role as potential pathogens, Mycoplasmas are of interest because they evolved from Gram-positive eubacteria by a drastic reduction of genome size, resulting in the loss of many biosynthetic abilities.With genome sizes smaller than 1 Mb, they have been described as the "smallest free-living organisms", and are considered to be the best representatives for the concept of a minimal cell. M. mobile is not too closely related with M. genitalium and M. pneumoniae , the two species which were used as basis for the definition of the minimal genome (Hutchison et al. 1999), but it is a member of the same genus. Its genome sequence, combined with other Mycoplasma genome sequences, would be extremely valuable for the identification of a consensus minimal genome. To date, the complete nucleotide sequences of seven Mycoplasma genomes have been determined and additional species are subject to extensive sequencing efforts in an effort to find the minimal set of genes required to sustain independent life under laboratory growth conditions.M. mobile is a non-pathogenic organism, yet shares many of the simple features found in the pathogenic species. Research on this organism can be performed without the additional regulatory and safety issues necessary with other mycoplasma species.M. mobile has been isolated from a fresh-water fish, the tench, and as such is the first instance of a Mycoplasma which colonizes an aquatic organism.M. mobile glides much faster and more robustly than any other Mycoplasma sequenced to date. The availability of its genome sequence provides a powerful tool for comparative genomics targeting the identification of genes necessary for locomotion.(From http://www.ebi.ac.uk/2can/genomes/bacteria.html) (BacMap)
Taxonomy
Kingdom:Bacteria
Phylum:Tenericutes
Class:Mollicutes
Order:Mycoplasmatales
Family:Mycoplasmataceae
Genus:Mycoplasma
Species:mobile
Strain 163K
Complete Yes
Sequencing centre (11-SEP-2004) National Center for Biotechnology Information, NIH, Bethesda, MD 20894, USA
(13-APR-2004) National Center for Biotechnology Information, NIH, Bethesda, MD 20894, USA
Sequencing quality Level 6: Finished
Sequencing depth NA
Sequencing method NA
Isolation site "gills of tench, Tinca tinca, with red disease"
Isolation country Germany
Number of replicons 1
Gram staining properties Negative
Shape Cocci
Mobility No
Flagellar presence No
Number of membranes 1
Oxygen requirements Facultative
Optimal temperature 20.0
Temperature range Mesophilic
Habitat HostAssociated
Biotic relationship Free living
Host name NA
Cell arrangement Singles
Sporulation Nonsporulating
Metabolism NA
Energy source NA
Diseases None
Pathogenicity No