Thermosphaera

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Thermosphaera
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Thermosphaera

Huber et al. 1998
Type species
Thermosphaera aggregans
Huber et al. 1998
Species

Thermosphaera is a genus of the Desulfurococcaceae. They are a group of prokaryotic organisms which have been discovered in extremely hot environments such as sulfur springs, volcanoes, and magma pools. Isolates of Thermosphaera were first identified in 1998 from the Obsidian Pool in Yellowstone National Park.

Contents

Cell structure and metabolism

Cells of Thermosphaera are cocci (spherical) and form grape-like aggregates during the exponential growth phase. In the late exponential and stationary growth phases, smaller groups, including some single cells, were visible. Aggregates were shown to have several flagella; single cells could have as many as eight. The cell envelope is an amorphous layer covering a cytoplasmic membrane. Temperatures exceeding 92 °C inhibits growth, as does sulfur and hydrogen. Thermosphaera cells are heterotrophic, processing energy from yeast.

Ecology

Thermosphaera are found mainly in sulfuric pools, where they thrive on the extreme temperatures. In terms of research and economic significance, learning more about these organisms and their properties may help advancements in biotechnology.

Genome structure

Sequencing the 16S rRNA of Thermosphaera showed that this isolate was a member of the group Crenarchaeota and closely related to Staphylothermus and Desulfurococcus . [1]

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Thermoproteota</span> Phylum of archaea

The Thermoproteota are archaea that have been classified as a phylum of the Archaea domain. Initially, the Thermoproteota were thought to be sulfur-dependent extremophiles but recent studies have identified characteristic Thermoproteota environmental rRNA indicating the organisms may be the most abundant archaea in the marine environment. Originally, they were separated from the other archaea based on rRNA sequences; other physiological features, such as lack of histones, have supported this division, although some crenarchaea were found to have histones. Until recently all cultured Thermoproteota had been thermophilic or hyperthermophilic organisms, some of which have the ability to grow at up to 113 °C. These organisms stain Gram negative and are morphologically diverse, having rod, cocci, filamentous and oddly-shaped cells.

The Thermoprotei is a class of the Thermoproteota.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Desulfurococcales</span> Order of archaea

The Desulfurococcales are an order of the Thermoprotei, part of the kingdom Archaea. The order encompasses some genera which are all thermophilic, autotrophs which utilise chemical energy, typically by reducing sulfur compounds using hydrogen.

Thermoproteales are an order of archaeans in the class Thermoprotei. They are the only organisms known to lack the SSB proteins, instead possessing the protein ThermoDBP that has displaced them. The rRNA genes of these organisms contain multiple introns, which can be homing endonuclease encoding genes, and their presence can impact the binding of "universal" 16S rRNA primers often used in environmental sequencing surveys.

The Pyrodictiaceae are a family of disc-shaped anaerobic microorganisms belonging to the order Desulfurococcales, in the domain Archaea. Members of this family are distinguished from the other family (Desulfurococcaceae) in the order Desulfurococcales by having an optimal growth temperature above 100 °C, rather than below 100 °C.

Pyrobaculum is a genus of the Thermoproteaceae.

In taxonomy, Thermocladium is a genus of the Thermoproteaceae.

In taxonomy, Vulcanisaeta is a genus of the Thermoproteaceae.

<i>Acidilobus</i> Genus of archaea

In taxonomy, Acidilobus is a genus of the Acidilobaceae.

In taxonomy, Aeropyrum is a genus of the Desulfurococcaceae.

In taxonomy, Staphylothermus is a genus of the Desulfurococcaceae.[1]

Stetteria is a genus of archaeans in the family Desulfurococcaceae. Up to now there is only one species of this genus known, Stetteria hydrogenophila.

In taxonomy, Sulfophobococcus is a genus of the Desulfurococcaceae.

In taxonomy, Thermodiscus is a genus of the Desulfurococcaceae.

In taxonomy, Geogemma is a genus of the family Pyrodictiaceae.

In taxonomy, Hyperthermus is a genus of the Pyrodictiaceae.

Pyrodictium is a genus in the family Pyrodictiaceae. It is a genus of submarine hyperthermophilic Archaea whose optimal growth temperature range is 80 to 105°C. They have a unique cell structure involving a network of cannulae and flat, disk-shaped cells. Pyrodictium are found in the porous walls of deep-sea vents where the temperatures inside get as high as 400°C, while the outside marine environment is typically 3°C. Pyrodictium is apparently able to adapt morphologically to this type of hot–cold habitat.

<i>Pyrolobus</i> Genus of archaea

Pyrolobus is a genus of the Pyrodictiaceae.

In taxonomy, Ignisphaera is a genus of the Desulfurococcales. Ignisphaera aggregans is a coccoid- shaped, fourth type strain that is strictly anaerobes with anaerobic respiration. This archaea species are hyperthermophiles that were found in New Zealand's hot springs in Kuirau Park, Rotorua.

Caldococcus is a genus of Archaea in the order Desulfurococcales.

References

  1. See the NCBI webpage on Thermosphaera. Data extracted from the "NCBI taxonomy resources". National Center for Biotechnology Information . Retrieved 2007-03-19.

Further reading