Hyphomonas neptunium ATCC 15444

Hyphomonas neptunium, a marine member of the dimorphic prosthecate bacteria (DPB) differs from C. crescentus in that H. neptunium uses its stalk as a reproductive structure. DPB are alpha-proteobacteria that reproduce in an asymmetric manner rather than by binary fission and are of interest as simple models of development. This organism shares more genes with Cauobacter crescentus than it does with Silicibacter pomeroyi (a closer relative according to 16S rRNA phylogeny).; however C.crescentus is also a DPB. Analysis of the H.neptunium genome indicates that it relies upon a heterotrophic strategy utilizing a wide range of substrates, that its cell cycle is likely to be regulated in a similar manner to that of C. crescentus, and that the outer membrane complements of H. neptunium and C. crescentus are remarkably similar. H. neptunium swarmer cells are highly motile via a single polar flagellum. With the exception of cheY and cheR, genes required for chemotaxis were absent in the H. neptunium genome. (EBI Integr8)