Rhodococcus opacus M213 Genome sequencing and assembly. Rhodococcus opacus M213

Much of what is known of the biochemistry and genetics of bacterial naphthalene metabolism is based on Gram-negative bacteria such as Pseudomonas putida G7 and its resident plasmid, NAH7. Of major interest are the Gram-positive Rhodococcii, ubiquitously present in soils, and able to metabolize a range of aromatic hydrocarbons. Little is known of the pathways or genetics of naphthalene metabolism by Rhodococcii, however. Rhodococcus biodegradative genes are not homologous with their counterparts from Pseudomonads. Therefore, we are interested in the genetics and physiology of biodegradative mechanisms, primarily of naphthalene, by R. opacus M213, isolated from a fuel-oil contaminated soil in northern Idaho.