Sulfolobus acidocaldarius

A Microbial Biorealm page on the genus Sulfolobus acidocaldarius

Classification

Higher order taxa

Archaea; Crenarchaeota; Thermoprotei; Sulfolobales; Sulfolobaceae; Sulfolobus

Species

Sulfolobus acidocaldarius

Description and significance

Sulfolobus acidocaldarius is an aerobic thermoacidophilic crenarchaeon which grows optimally at 80°C and pH 2 in terrestrial solfataric springs. [1] They are primarily an aquatic organism; highly abundance in sulfur-rich hot acid springs in Yellowstone National Park. Sulfolobus are likely to be present in most hot springs [6]. The strictly aerobic organism also establish itself in hot acid soils at temperatures 55-85°C. [3] Sulfolobus acidocaldarius is responsible for the oxidation of sulfur in sulfuric acid production and the existence of sulfur-oxidizing bacteria. [3]

Sulfolobus acidocaldarius strain DSM639, the type strain of the archaeal genus Sulfolobus, was the first hyperthermoacidophile to be characterized from terrestrial solfataras. [1] They serve as a model organism for the Phylum Crenarchaeota and has been used for many studies in archaeal biology.

Genome structure

Shotgun sequencing was used to map the genome for Sulfolobus acidocaldarious strain DSM639. The circular genome was sequence to carry 2,225,950 bp (37% G+C), with 2,292 predicted protein encoding genes [1]. Within the 2,292 protein encoding genes, 305 are exclusive to Sulfolobus acidocaldarius and 866 genes are specific to Genus Sulfolobus[1].

133 short genes were identified by comparing all DNA sequence analysis with the other Sulfolobus genomes [1]. The 133 shorter genes appeared in multiple copies, there is a total of 95 different genes [1]. Inteins were not found [1].

Cell structure and metabolism

Describe any interesting features and/or cell structures; how it gains energy; what important molecules it produces.

Ecology

Describe any interactions with other organisms (included eukaryotes), contributions to the environment, effect on environment, etc.

Pathology

Sulfolobus acidocaldarius is currently not known to cause any human diseases.

Application to Biotechnology

Does this organism produce any useful compounds or enzymes? What are they and how are they used?

Current Research

Enter summaries of the most recent research here--at least three required

References

1. Lanming Chen, Kim Brügger, Marie Skovgaard, Peter Redder, Qunxin She, Elfar Torarinsson, Bo Greve, Mariana Awayez, Arne Zibat, Hans-Peter Klenk, and Roger A. Garrett. “The Genome of Sulfolobus acidocaldarius, a Model Organism of the Crenarchaeota”. Journal of Bacteriology, July 2005. 187(14):. p. 4992–4999. [1]

2. Paul Lewus and Roseanne M. Ford. “Temperature-Sensitive Motility of Sulfolobus acidocaldarius Influences Population Distribution in Extreme Environments”. Journal of Bacteriology. July 1999. 181(13): 4020–4025. [2]

3. Carl B. Fliermans and Thomas D. Brock. “Ecology of Sulfur-Oxidizing Bacteria in Hot Acid Soils”. Journal of Bacteriology, Aug 1972. p. 343-350. [3]

4. Anders F Andersson, Magnus Lundgren, Stefan Eriksson, Magnus Rosenlund, Rolf Bernander, and Peter Nilsson. “Global analysis of mRNA stability in the archaeon Sulfolobus”. Genome Biology. 2006; 7(10): R99. [4]

5. Silvia Berkner, Dennis Grogan, Sonja-Verena Albers, and Georg Lipps. “Small multicopy, non-integrative shuttle vectors based on the plasmid pRN1 for Sulfolobus acidocaldarius and Sulfolobus solfataricus, model organisms of the (cren-)archaea”. Nucleic Acids Research. 2007 June; 35(12): e88. [5]

6. George Rice, Kenneth Stedman, Jamie Snyder, Blake Wiedenheft, Debbie Willits, Susan Brumfield, Timothy McDermott, and Mark J. Young. "Viruses from extreme thermal environments". Proceedings National Academy of Sciences of the Unites States of America. 2001 November 6; 98(23): 13341–13345. [6]

7. NCBI Taxonomy Broswer. "Sulfolobus acidocaldarius DSM 639". [7]

Edited by Fanny Wong of Rachel Larsen