Dicholoromethane degrading bacterium. Methylorubrum extorquens DM4

Methylobacterium extorquens DM4. Methylobacterium extorquens DM4 was isolated from soil contaminated with halogenated (chlorine-containing) hydrocarbons. This organism is able to use dichloromethane as a sole carbon and energy source. Dichloromethane, an industrial solvent, is toxic and carcinogenic. This compound is water soluble and can easily contaminate groundwater. The genome of Methylobacterium dichloromethanicum will provide information or the pathways involved in degrading this and other chlorinated compounds.