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B Bowien

Publications and source records attributed to B Bowien.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

Visual Cloning 2000: a DNA sequence analysis program.

VC2000 is a recommendable, easy-to-use and affordable program suited particularly to plot maps of both plasmids and linear DNA fragments for the documentation of cloning procedures. It comes with basic tools for sequence analysis that assist this major utility. A special feature of the program is the integration of web-based tools, providing additional analytical power and flexibility. In this way the user is supplied with the latest versions of these applications.

Cloning, Molecular↗

Involvement of an unusual mol operon in molybdopterin cofactor biosynthesis in Ralstonia eutropha.

In contrast to its parent strain, transposon Tn5-Mob insertion mutant HB6 of the facultative chemoautotroph Ralstonia eutropha was unable to grow organoautotrophically on formate and exhibited no activity of Mo-dependent, membrane-bound formate dehydrogenase (M-FDH) when cultivated mixotrophically on fructose plus formate. The activity of another molybdoenzyme, the soluble, NAD+-linked formate dehydrogenase which is the key enzyme of formate utilization in R. eutropha, was greatly diminished in the mutant. HB6 also lacked the W-dependent M-FDH activities that were newly discovered in organoautotrophically, lithoautotrophically, or mixotrophically grown wildtype cells. However, an additional W-dependent M-FDH activity, observed in heterotrophically grown stationary-phase cells, was present in the mutant although at a considerably reduced level. Sequence analyses of the complementing chromosomal wildtype and the corresponding mutant DNA fragment revealed the transposon insertion to be located in moeA, a gene involved in the biosynthesis of the molybdopterin cofactor (MoCo). Nevertheless, mutant HB6 was able to grow on xanthine as carbon and energy source and with nitrate as nitrogen source. The utilization of these substrates requires the function of the MoCo-containing enzymes xanthine dehydrogenase and assimilatory nitrate reductase, respectively, that were still active in the mutant. A moeA deletion mutant exhibited the same phenotype as that of HB6. The moeA gene belongs to an unusual mol operon consisting of four genes (moeA, moaD, moaE, and moaF) and being constitutively expressed at low level. Unlike MoeA, the large subunit of molybdopterin synthase encoded by moaE is essential for molybdopterin biosynthesis as was evident by the phenotype of a moaE deletion mutant. MoaF is a novel gene product which showed no similarity to proteins with known function but was indispensable for reconstituting organoautotrophic growth in HB6. The findings suggest that MoeA of R. eutropha is differentially involved in the biosynthesis or incorporation of pterin cofactors of/into the various molybdo- and tungstoenzymes.

Bacterial Proteins↗

Phosphoenolpyruvate is a signal metabolite in transcriptional control of the cbb CO2 fixation operons in Ralstonia eutropha.

The two highly homologous cbb operons of the facultative chemoautotroph Ralstonia eutropha H16 encode most enzymes of the Calvin-Benson-Bassham carbon reduction cycle. Their transcriptional regulation was investigated both in vitro and in vivo to identify a metabolic signal involved in this process. For this purpose an in vitro transcription system employing the DNA-dependent RNA polymerase purified from R. eutropha was established. The enzyme from Escherichia coli was also used in verifying comparative studies. Plasmid DNA carrying the control region of the chromosomal cbb operon served as template. In the homologous as well as the heterologous system specific transcripts synthesized under the control of the operon promoter PcbbL were observed, depending on the structure of the tested promoter variant as well as the presence or absence of the activator protein CbbR. Unlike mutationally improved PcbbL variants, the wild-type promoter remained inactive, even in the presence of CbbR together with various potential signal metabolites. CbbR stimulated PcbbL mutants with intermediate basal activity. Phosphoenolpyruvate (PEP) was identified as a negative effector of CbbR that inhibited PcbbL-directed transcription and increased the operator-binding affinity of the protein. This CbbR-mediated inhibition was confirmed by assaying wild-type PcbbL operon fusions in glucose- or succinate-grown cells of E. coli, which contain greatly different concentrations of PEP. It is concluded that at least one additional protein must participate in the overall control of the cbb operons in R. eutropha.

Bacterial Proteins↗

Dual control by regulatory gene fdsR of the fds operon encoding the NAD+-linked formate dehydrogenase of Ralstonia eutropha.

The transcriptional regulator gene fdsR was identified 150 bp upstream of the divergently oriented fdsGBACD operon encoding the soluble, NAD+-linked formate dehydrogenase in the chemoautotrophic bacterium Ralstonia eutropha H16. Its deduced product, FdsR, displays a basal sequence similarity to the regulatory proteins of the LysR family. The carboxy-terminal domain of FdsR contains a short region that is conserved in formate dehydrogenases. Deletion of fdsR revealed a dual regulatory effect of FdsR on the fds operon by acting as transcriptional activator in the presence of formate or as repressor in the absence of formate. Studies with fdsR transcriptional fusions also suggested a negative autoregulation of the gene. A promoter structure resembling sigma70-dependent promoters from Escherichia coli was identified upstream of the fdsR transcriptional start site. FdsR purified to homogeneity after overexpression of fdsR in E. coli is a 130 kDa homotetramer binding to the fds control region located between the fdsR and fdsG genes. Formate significantly increased the binding affinity of FdsR for this region. Two FdsR binding sites characterized by the inverted-repeat structure ATANG-N10-CNTAT were identified. The regulatory pattern found in R. eutropha was also observed in the heterologous host E. coli and results from a novel mode of control of formate dehydrogenase genes.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Mutational analysis of the cbb operon (CO2 assimilation) promoter of Ralstonia eutropha.

PL promoters direct the transcription of the duplicated cbb operons from the facultative chemoautotroph Ralstonia eutropha H16. The operons encode most enzymes of the Calvin-Benson-Bassham carbon reduction cycle required for CO2 assimilation. Their transcription depends on the activator protein CbbR. Structure-function relationships in the cloned chromosomal promoter region were analyzed by site-directed mutagenesis. PL was altered in its presumed hexameric -35 and/or -10 box or in the spacer region between the boxes to achieve a greater or lesser resemblance to the structure of the sigma70 consensus promoter of Escherichia coli. PL::lacZ transcriptional fusions of various promoter variants were assayed in transconjugant strains of R. eutropha as well as in corresponding cbbR deletion mutants. Mutations increasing the similarity of the -35 and/or -10 box to the consensus sequence stimulated PL activity to various extents, whereas mutations deviating from the consensus decreased the activity. The length of the spacer region also proved to be critical. The conversion of the boxes, either individually or simultaneously, into the consensus sequences resulted in a highly active PL. All improved PL mutants, however, retained the activation under inducing or derepressing growth conditions, although the full-consensus promoter was nearly constitutive. They were also activated in the cbbR mutants. The activity of the overlapping, divergently oriented cbbR promoter was less affected by the mutations. The half- and full-consensus PL mutants were comparably active in E. coli. Two major conclusions were drawn from the results: (i) the location and function of PL were verified, and (ii) indirect evidence was obtained for the involvement of another regulator(s), besides CbbR, in the transcriptional control of the R. eutropha cbb operons.

Bacterial Proteins↗

Structural analysis of the fds operon encoding the NAD+-linked formate dehydrogenase of Ralstonia eutropha.

The fdsGBACD operon encoding the four subunits of the NAD+-reducing formate dehydrogenase of Ralstonia eutropha H16 was cloned and sequenced. Sequence comparisons indicated a high resemblance of FdsA (alpha-subunit) to the catalytic subunits of formate dehydrogenases containing a molybdenum (or tungsten) cofactor. The NH2-terminal region (residues 1-240) of FdsA, lacking in formate dehydrogenases not linked to NAD(P)+, exhibited considerable similarity to that of NuoG of the NADH:ubiquinone oxidoreductase from Escherichia coli as well as to HoxU and the NH2-terminal segment of HndD of NAD(P)+-reducing hydrogenases. FdsB (beta-subunit) and FdsG (gamma-subunit) are closely related to NuoF and NuoE, respectively, as well as to HoxF and HndA. It is proposed that the NH2-terminal domain of FdsA together with FdsB and FdsG constitute a functional entity corresponding to the NADH dehydrogenase (diaphorase) part of NADH:ubiquinone oxidoreductase and the hydrogenases. No significant similarity to any known protein was observed for FdsD (delta-subunit). The predicted product of fdsC showed the highest resemblance to FdhD from E. coli, a protein required for the formation of active formate dehydrogenases in this organism. Transcription of the fds operon is subject to formate induction. A promoter structure resembling the consensus sequence of sigma70-dependent promoters from E. coli was identified upstream of the transcriptional start site determined by primer extension analysis.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Organization and regulation of cbb CO2 assimilation genes in autotrophic bacteria.

The Calvin-Benson-Bassham cycle constitutes the principal route of CO2 assimilation in aerobic chemoautotrophic and in anaerobic phototrophic purple bacteria. Most of the enzymes of the cycle are found to be encoded by cbb genes. Despite some conservation of the internal gene arrangement cbb gene clusters of the various organisms differ in size and operon organization. The cbb operons of facultative autotrophs are more strictly regulated than those of obligate autotrophs. The major control is exerted by the cbbR gene, which codes for a transcriptional activator of the LysR family. This gene is typically located immediately upstream of and in divergent orientation to the regulated cbb operon, forming a control region for both transcriptional units. Recent studies suggest that additional protein factors are involved in the regulation. Although the metabolic signal(s) received by the regulatory components of the operons is (are) still unknown, the redox state of the cell is believed to play a key role. It is proposed that the control of the cbb operon expression is integrated into a regulatory network.

Bacteria↗

Identification of cbbBc as an additional distal gene of the chromosomal cbb CO2 fixation operon from Ralstonia eutropha.

Ralstonia eutropha (formerly Alcaligenes eutrophus) strain H16 possesses two highly homologous cbb operons encoding most of the Calvin cycle enzymes. One copy of the operon is located on the chromosome, the other on the megaplasmid pHG1 of the organism. Sequence analysis of the region downstream of the presumptive 3'-terminal gene (cbbAc) of the chromosomal operon revealed the presence of an open reading frame comprising 2,274 bp. Evidence is presented that this open reading frame is an additional distal gene (designated cbbBc) of the operon. In contrast to the other genes of the operon, cbbBc is not duplicated in the plasmid-borne operon. The deduced amino acid sequence of the cbbBc product (757 residues, molecular mass 83.17 kDa) showed the highest similarity to the large catalytic subunits of various bacterial formate dehydrogenases (FDH), suggesting that cbbBc might represent a structural FDH gene of R. eutropha. However, the properties of a cbbBc mutant strain indicated that the potential gene product is not related to known FDH of the organism. Transcriptional analysis in the homologous host and heterologous expression in Escherichia coli demonstrated that cbbBc is an active gene, which apparently has no essential function in the autotrophic metabolism of R. eutropha. The gene is a novel member of cbb operons in autotrophic bacteria.

Alcaligenes↗

Regulation of CO2 assimilation in Ralstonia eutropha: premature transcription termination within the cbb operon.

In the facultatively chemoautotrophic bacterium Ralstonia eutropha (formerly Alcaligenes eutrophus), most genes required for CO2 assimilation via the Calvin cycle are organized within two highly homologous cbb operons located on the chromosome and on megaplasmid pHG1, respectively, of strain H16. These operons are subject to tight control exerted by a promoter upstream of the 5'-terminal cbbL gene that is regulated by the activator CbbR. The existence of subpromoters within the operons was now excluded, as determined with lacZ operon fusions to suitable cbb gene fragments in the promoter-probe vector pBK. Nevertheless, marked differential expression of the promoter-proximal ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase-oxygenase genes cbbLS and the remaining distal genes occurs within the operons. Computer analysis revealed a potential stem-loop structure immediately downstream of cbbS that was suspected to be involved in the differential gene expression. Nuclease S1 mapping identified a major 3' end and a minor 3' end of the relatively stable cbbLS partial transcript just downstream of this structure. Moreover, operon fusions containing progressively deleted stem-loop structures showed that the structure primarily caused transcriptional termination downstream of cbbS rather than increased the segmental stability of the cbbLS transcript. Premature transcription termination thus represents an important mechanism leading to differential gene expression within the cbb operons.

Alcaligenes↗

Analysis of the cbbF genes from Alcaligenes eutrophus that encode fructose-1,6-/sedoheptulose-1,7-bisphosphatase.

The cbbF genes of the facultative chemoautotroph Alcaligenes eutrophus H16 are part of two highly homologous cbb operons. Both the chromosomal and the megaplasmid pHG1-borne copy of cbbF were cloned and sequenced. Subsequent analyses including comparison with known sequences from other organisms and heterologous expression in Escherichia coli revealed that each of the genes encodes fructose-1,6-bisphosphatase (FBPase). A closely related activity likewise operating in the Calvin carbon reduction cycle, sedoheptulose-1,7-bisphosphatase, was also catalyzed by the two isoenzymes which were purified from autotrophically grown cells of A. eutrophus. Two-dimensional gel electrophoresis allowed the separation of the cbbF gene products. Preliminary physical evidence by Southern hybridization with a heterologous gene probe was obtained for the existence of a third FBPase gene, fbp, on the chromosome of the organism. Its product is probably involved in the heterotrophic carbon metabolism.

Alcaligenes↗

Analysis of the genes forming the distal parts of the two cbb CO2 fixation operons from Alcaligenes eutrophus.

In the facultative chemoautotroph Alcaligenes eutrophus H16, most of the genes (cbb genes) encoding enzymes of the Calvin carbon reduction cycle are organized within two highly homologous cbb operons, one located on the chromosome and the other on the megaplasmid pHG1. Nucleotide sequencing of the promoter-distal part of the operons revealed three open reading frames, designated cbbG, cbbK, and cbbA. Similarity searches in databases and heterologous expressions of the subcloned genes in Escherichia coli identified them as genes encoding the Calvin cycle enzymes glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase, 3-phosphoglycerate kinase, and a class II fructose-1,6-bisphosphate aldolase, respectively. The aldolase could be grouped together with the enzymes from Rhodobacter sphaeroides and Bacillus subtilis as a new subtype of class II aldolases. A phenotypic complementation analysis with a cbb operon mutant of A. eutrophus showed that the cbbG product is essential for autotrophic growth of the organism, whereas the products of cbbK and cbbA can apparently be substituted by isoenzymes encoded elsewhere on the chromosome. No or only low constitutive promoter activity was associated with cbbK and cbbA, respectively, confirming the two genes as parts of the cbb operon. Downstream of cbbA, the very high overall nucleotide sequence identity (about 94%) prevailing throughout the two cbb operons discontinues, suggesting that cbbA is the most promoter-distal gene of the operon.

Alcaligenes↗

Characterization of the duplicate ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase genes and cbb promoters of Alcaligenes eutrophus.

Autotrophic CO2 fixation via the Calvin carbon reduction cycle in Alcaligenes eutrophus H16 is genetically determined by two highly homologous cbb operons, one of which is located on the chromosome and the other on megaplasmid pHG1 of the organism. An activator gene, cbbR, lies in divergent orientation only 167 bp upstream of the chromosomal operon and controls the expression of both cbb operons. The two 5'-terminal genes of the operons, cbbLS, coding for ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase/oxygenase, were sequenced. Mapping of the 5' termini of the 2.1-kb cbbLS transcripts by primer extension and by nuclease S1 treatment revealed a single transcriptional start point at the same relative position for the chromosomal and plasmid-borne cbb operons. The derived cbb operon promoter showed similarity to sigma 70-dependent promoters of Escherichia coli. For the 1.4-kb transcripts of cbbR, the transcriptional start points were different in autotrophic and heterotrophic cells. The two corresponding cbbR promoters overlapped the cbb operon promoter and also displayed similarities to sigma 70-dependent promoters. The deficient cbbR gene located on pHG1 was transcribed as well. A newly constructed double operon fusion vector was used to determine the activities of the cbb promoters. Fusions with fragments carrying the cbb intergenic control regions demonstrated that the cbb operon promoters were strongly regulated in response to autotrophic versus heterotrophic growth conditions. In contrast, the cbbR promoters displayed low constitutive activities. The data suggest that the chromosomal and plasmid-borne cbb promoters of A. eutrophus H16 are functionally equivalent despite minor structural differences.

Alcaligenes↗

Operator binding of the CbbR protein, which activates the duplicate cbb CO2 assimilation operons of Alcaligenes eutrophus.

The regulatory protein CbbR, which activates the transcription of the duplicate, chromosomally and megaplasmid pHG1-borne cbb CO2 assimilation operons of Alcaligenes eutrophus H16, was purified to homogeneity from Escherichia coli after heterologous expression of the cloned cbbR gene. The pure protein occurred as either a 63-kDa dimer at room temperature or a 125-kDa tetramer at 4 degrees C. CbbR bound to the 167-bp cbb control region separating the divergently oriented cbbR gene (defective copy on pHG1) from the cbb operon. DNase I footprinting revealed binding of the protein between position -29 and -74 relative to the transcriptional start point of the cbb operon, with a hypersensitive site at positions -47 and -48, suggesting potential DNA bending. Hydroxyl radical footprinting disclosed the same central binding region. The region was found to consist of two subsites to which the activator apparently bound in a cooperative manner. At higher CbbR concentrations, the binding region extended to position +13. The overlapping arrangement of the operon promoter and CbbR-binding region (operator) suggests an interaction between CbbR and RNA polymerase to cause transcription activation. Transcriptional fusions with fragments carrying 1- or 2-bp insertions within the central region showed no operon promoter activity, although CbbR binding was not prevented by these mutations. Dissection of the central region enabled the differentiation of two apparently independent binding subsites. Strongly increased cbbR promoter activity originating from a fragment that contained only a part of the central region indicated negative autoregulation of cbbR transcription.

Alcaligenes↗

Structural and immunological studies on the soluble formate dehydrogenase from Alcaligenes eutrophus.

During growth with formate as the sole energy source the autotrophic bacterium Alcaligenes eutrophus synthesizes a cytoplasmic formate dehydrogenase. The enzyme is a molybdo-iron-sulfur-flavo protein and the major NADH-producing system under these growth conditions, although it was estimated to constitute only 0.65% of the soluble cell protein. An electron microscopic analysis of the purified enzyme revealed that the particle is made up of four nonidentical submasses, corroborating previous structural data. The NH2-terminal amino acid sequences of the enzyme subunits exhibited significant similarities to those of only one other heteromeric formate dehydrogenase, the enzyme from the methane-utilizing bacterium Methylosinus trichosporium. Metal analyses yielded 21.5 g-atom iron, 2.18 g-atom nickel, 0.76 g-atom molybdenum, and 0.59 g-atom zinc per mol of enzyme. Initial electron paramagnetic resonance spectroscopic studies showed at least three distinct signals which appeared upon reduction of the enzyme with NADH or formate. The corresponding spin systems could be attributed to iron-sulfur centers of the enzyme. Comparative immunostaining and activity-staining experiments using cell extracts from various bacteria established immunological similarities between the soluble formate dehydrogenase of A. eutrophus and the soluble enzymes from all tested facultative autotrophs as well as from M. trichosporium.

Alcaligenes↗

Identification of a novel gene, aut, involved in autotrophic growth of Alcaligenes eutrophus.

The aerobic facultative chemoautotroph Alcaligenes eutrophus was found to possess a novel gene, designated aut, required for both lithoautotrophic (hydrogen plus carbon dioxide) and organoautotrophic (formate) growth (Aut+ phenotype). Insertional mutagenesis by transposon Tn5-Mob localized the gene on a chromosomal 13-kbp EcoRI fragment. Physiological characterization of various Aut- mutants revealed pleiotropic effects caused by the transposon insertion. Heterotrophic growth of the mutants on substrates catabolized via the glycolytic pathway was slower than that of the parent strains, and the colony morphology of the mutants was altered when grown on nutrient agar. The heterotrophic derepression of the cbb operons encoding Calvin cycle enzymes was abolished, although their expression was still inducible in the presence of formate. Apparently, the mutation did not affect the cbb genes directly but impaired the autotrophic growth in a more general manner. The conjugally transferred wild-type EcoRI fragment allowed phenotypic in trans complementation of the mutants. Further subcloning and sequencing identified a single open reading frame (aut) of 495 bp that was sufficient for complementation. The monocistronic aut gene was constitutively transcribed into a 0.65-kb mRNA. However, its expression appeared to be low. Heterologous expression of aut was achieved in Escherichia coli, resulting in overproduction of an 18-kDa protein. Database searches yielded weak partial sequence similarities of the deduced Aut protein sequence to some cytidylyltransferases, but no indication for the exact function of the aut gene was obtained. Hybridizing DNA sequences that might be similar to the aut gene were detected by Southern hybridization in the genome of two other autotrophic bacteria.

Alcaligenes↗

Physiological and biochemical characterization of the soluble formate dehydrogenase, a molybdoenzyme from Alcaligenes eutrophus.

Organoautotrophic growth of Alcaligenes eutrophus on formate was dependent on the presence of molybdate in the medium. Supplementation of the medium with tungstate lead to growth cessation. Corresponding effects of these anions were observed for the activity of the soluble, NAD(+)-linked formate dehydrogenase (S-FDH; EC 1.2.1.2) of the organism. Lack of molybdate or presence of tungstate resulted in an almost complete loss of S-FDH activity. S-FDH was purified to near homogeneity in the presence of nitrate as a stabilizing agent. The native enzyme exhibited an M(r) of 197,000 and a heterotetrameric quaternary structure with nonidentical subunits of M(r) 110,000 (alpha), 57,000 (beta), 19,400 (gamma), and 11,600 (delta). It contained 0.64 g-atom of molybdenum, 25 g-atom of nonheme iron, 20 g-atom of acid-labile sulfur, and 0.9 mol of flavin mononucleotide per mol. The fluorescence spectrum of iodine-oxidized S-FDH was nearly identical to the form A spectrum of milk xanthine oxidase, proving the presence of a pterin cofactor. The molybdenum-complexing cofactor was identified as molybdopterin guanine dinucleotide in an amount of 0.71 mol/mol of S-FDH. Apparent Km values of 3.3 mM for formate and 0.09 mM for NAD+ were determined. The enzyme coupled the oxidation of formate to a number of artificial electron acceptors and was strongly inactivated by formate in the absence of NAD+. It was inhibited by cyanide, azide, nitrate, and Hg2+ ions. Thus, the enzyme belongs to a new group of complex molybdo-flavo Fe-S FDH that so far has been detected in only one other aerobic bacterium.

Alcaligenes↗

The cbb operons of the facultative chemoautotroph Alcaligenes eutrophus encode phosphoglycolate phosphatase.

The two highly homologous cbb operons of Alcaligenes eutrophus H16 that are located on the chromosome and on megaplasmid pHG1 contain genes encoding several enzymes of the Calvin carbon reduction cycle. Sequence analysis of a region from the promoter-distal part revealed two open reading frames, designated cbbT and cbbZ, at equivalent positions within the operons. Comparisons with known sequences suggested cbbT to encode transketolase (TK; EC 2.2.1.1) as an additional enzyme of the cycle. No significant overall sequence similarities were observed for cbbZ. Although both regions exhibited very high nucleotide identities, 93% (cbbZ) and 96% (cbbT), only the chromosomally encoded genes were heterologously expressed to high levels in Escherichia coli. The molecular masses of the observed gene products, CbbT (74 kDa) and CbbZ (24 kDa), correlated well with the values calculated on the basis of the sequence information. TK activities were strongly elevated in E. coli clones expressing cbbT, confirming the identity of the gene. Strains of E. coli harboring the chromosomal cbbZ gene showed high levels of activity of 2-phosphoglycolate phosphatase (PGP; EC 3.1.3.18), a key enzyme of glycolate metabolism in autotrophic organisms that is not present in wild-type E. coli. Derepression of the cbb operons during autotrophic growth resulted in considerably increased levels of TK activity and the appearance of PGP activity in A. eutrophus, although the pHG1-encoded cbbZ gene was apparently not expressed. To our knowledge, this study represents the first cloning and sequencing of a PGP gene from any organism.

Alcaligenes↗

Uniform designation for genes of the Calvin-Benson-Bassham reductive pentose phosphate pathway of bacteria.

Structural and regulatory genes encoding enzymes and proteins of the reductive pentose phosphate pathway have been isolated from a number of bacteria recently. In the phototroph Rhodobacter sphaeroides, and in two chemoautotrophic bacteria, Alcaligenes eutrophus and Xanthobacter flavus, these genes have been found in distinct operons. However, in these three organisms and in other bacteria where certain of these genes have been discovered, a uniform nomenclature to designate these genes has been lacking. This report represents an effort to provide uniformity to the designation of these genes from all bacteria.

Alcaligenes↗