Thorarcheota

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Classification

Archaea; Thorarchaeota; Thorarchaeia; Thorarchaeales; Thorarchaeaceae

Species

NCBI: [1]

Candidatus Thorarchaeota

Description and Significance

Thorarchaeota were discovered in North Carolina. Thorarchaeota still haven’t been cultured in a laboratory. Thorarcheota are actually very closely related to eukaryotes despite being prokaryotic. This is used to support the two domain tree of life theory. They are a part of the Asgard phylum along with Heimdallarchaeota, Lokiarcheota, and Odinarcheota. They are believed to part take in both the carbon and sulfur cycles. They also hold the ability to degrade organic matter. They have also been discovered to have anoxic properties as well. They use the trahydromethanopterin Wood Ljungdahl (THMPT-WL) pathway to reduce carbon dioxide. They have many genes present to partake in glycolysis, degradation, pyruvate kinases, extracellular peptidase, etc. There is still more to learn about Thorarcheota.

Genome Structure

Thorarchaeota genome is about 3.5-4.5 Mb. Thorarchaeota is linear. Thorarchaeota are closely related to Eukaryotes. Around 3,029 proteins have been sequences thus far from the genome. Their genome is near completion.

Cell Structure, Metabolism and Life Cycle

Thorarchaeota has been shown to help with the degradation or organic matter, as well as playing a part in reducing sulfur and fixation of carbon. Thorarcheota are suggested to have a mixotrophic lifestyle. Thorarchaeota have been shown to have metabolic pathways withe the ability to uptake and degrade carbohydrates, peptides, and proteins. Even though no genes that involve nitrate reduction enzymes have been found, some of the partial genomes did in fact have genes for nitrogen fixation and make selenoproteins. They can possibly also play a role in acetate or ethanol production.

Ecology and Pathogenesis

Thorarchaeota are found in estuaries in the eastern coast of the United States, specifically North Carolina. These bodies of water are filled with nutrients. They were specifically found in the sulfate methane transit zones of these bodies of water.

References

Manoharan L, Kozlowski JA, Murdoch RW, Löffler FE, Sousa FL, Schleper C. 2019. Metagenomes from coastal marine sediments give insights into the ecological role and cellular features of Loki- and Thorarchaeota. mBio 10:e02039-19. https://doi.org/10.1128/ mBio.02039-19.

Wikipedia contributors. (2022, July 1). Thorarchaeota. In Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. Retrieved 03:56, December 13, 2022, from https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Thorarchaeota&oldid=1095902981

Author

Page authored by Daniela Lizarazo, student of Prof. Bradley Tolar at UNC Wilmington.