Thermoproteous tenax

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Image of thinly sliced Thermoproteus tenax cells in the process of dividing. Image credit: Wildhaber and Baumeister 1987.

Classification

Domain; Phylum; Class; Order; family [Others may be used. Use NCBI link to find]

Species

NCBI: [1]

Thermoproteus tenax

Description and Significance

Thermoproteus tenax is a hyperthermophilic archaeal organism first discovered in volcanic fields in Iceland (Zillig et al., 1981). It is a strict anaerobe that is notable for its ability to grow both chemolithoautotrophically and chemoorganoheterotrophically (Siebers et al., 2011). It is dependent on sulfur for growth, which functions as its final electron receptor (Siebers et al., 2011).

Thermoproteus tenax is rod shaped with variable length and encompassed by a protein S-layer with a hexagonal lattice structure (Wildhaber and Baumeister, 1987). It is unique in that it is the first member of the Thermoproteus genus to have a fully sequenced genome (Siebers et al., 2011).

Genome Structure

Describe the size and content of the genome. How many chromosomes? Circular or linear? Other interesting features? What is known about its sequence?

Cell Structure, Metabolism and Life Cycle

Interesting features of cell structure; how it gains energy; what important molecules it produces.

Ecology and Pathogenesis

Habitat; symbiosis; biogeochemical significance; contributions to environment.

If relevant, how does this organism cause disease? Human, animal, plant hosts? Virulence factors, as well as patient symptoms.

References

[Sample reference] Takai, K., Sugai, A., Itoh, T., and Horikoshi, K. "Palaeococcus ferrophilus gen. nov., sp. nov., a barophilic, hyperthermophilic archaeon from a deep-sea hydrothermal vent chimney". International Journal of Systematic and Evolutionary Microbiology. 2000. Volume 50. p. 489-500.

Author

Page authored by Audrey Groves, student of Prof. Bradley Tolar at UNC Wilmington.