Bacteria Genomes - MANNHEIMIA SUCCUNICIPRODUCENS
Mannheimia succiniciproducens lives inside the stomachs
of cows and helps them digest grasses
Mannheimia succiniciproducens is a recently isolated capnophilic (grows best in the presence
of carbon dioxide) bacterium found in the bovine rumen. M. succiniciproducens is a non pathogenic, non-spore-forming, mesophilic, Gram-negative bacterium of the genus coccobacillus.
The rumen
is a fermentation vat in which the feed is collected immediately
after being swallowed and is digested through the action of microorganisms.
The different microorganisms present in the bovine rumen are able
to digest various substrates such as cellulose, hemicellulose, starch,
sugar, protein and lipid. Cellulose and hemicellulose are converted
to glucose, which is further converted by microbial fermentation
to volatile fatty acids (VFAs) such as acetic, propionic and butyric
acids. The VFAs generated in the rumen are absorbed through the
rumen wall, and used for milk production and energy generation.
Mannheimia succiniciproducens efficiently fixes carbon dioxide and produces substantial amounts
of succinic acid. Researchers believe it will be possible to use
this bacterium for the efficient production of succinic acid, an
important industrial chemical that can be used as a green feedstock
for the manufacture of biodegradable polymers, synthetic resins
and various chemical intermediates and additives.
The M.
succiniciproducens genome is a single circular chromosome
of 2,314,078 base pairs (bp) with no plasmid.
References:
Nat. Biotechnol. 22(10):1275-1281(2004)
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