Zymomonas mobilis subsp. mobilis NCIMB 11163

Zymomonas_mobilis
Names Zymomonas mobilis subsp. mobilis NCIMB 11163
Accession numbers NC_013355, NC_013356, NC_013357, NC_013358
Background Zymomonas mobilis subsp. mobilis (strain NCIB 11163) is a facultative aerobic, ethanol-producing bacterium. The natural habitat of this organism includes sugar-rich plant saps where the bacterium ferments sugar such as glucose or sucrose into ethanol and carbon dioxide. It is useful in industrial production systems, particularly in production of bioethanol for fuel. Genetically engineered strains that ferment pentoses in addition to naturally utilized hexoses also hold great promise for use in lignocellulosic biomass degradations. Z. mobilis is utilized for the conversion of sugars, particularly xylose, which is not utilized by another common sugar-fermenting organism such as yeast, to ethanol. Since xylose is a common breakdown product of cellulose or a waste component of the agricultural industry, it is an attractive source for ethanol production. Z. mobilis was chosen for this process as it is ethanol-tolerant (up to 120 grams of ethanol per litre) and productive (5-10% more ethanol than Saccharomyces). This bacterium ferments using the Enter-Doudoroff pathway, with the result that less carbon is used in cellular biomass production and more ends up as ethanol, another factor that favors this organism for ethanol production. Besides ethanol, Z. mobilis can produce other high-value chemicals such as sorbitol, levan, or phenylacetylcarbinol and has attracted interest for its unusual membrane steroid content. Lastly, Z. mobilis is regarded as a safe organism and is even used for medicinal purposes, which further facilitates its employment in large-scale biotechnological endeavors. (Adaptated from PMID: 19767433). (EBI Integr8)
Taxonomy
Kingdom:Bacteria
Phylum:Proteobacteria
Class:Alphaproteobacteria
Order:Sphingomonadales
Family:Sphingomonadaceae
Genus:Zymomonas
Species:mobilis
Strain NCIB 11163
Complete Yes
Sequencing centre (01-SEP-2009) US DOE Joint Genome Institute, 2800 Mitchell Drive B310, Walnut Creek, CA 94598-1698, USA
(07-OCT-2009) National Center for Biotechnology Information, NIH, Bethesda, MD 20894, USA
Sequencing quality Level 6: Finished
Sequencing depth NA
Sequencing method NA
Isolation site fermenting cane juice
Isolation country Brazil
Number of replicons 4
Gram staining properties Negative
Shape Bacilli
Mobility Yes
Flagellar presence Yes
Number of membranes 2
Oxygen requirements Facultative
Optimal temperature NA
Temperature range Mesophilic
Habitat NA
Biotic relationship Free living
Host name NA
Cell arrangement Pairs
Sporulation NA
Metabolism Ethanol production
Energy source NA
Diseases NA
Pathogenicity No