Chroococcidiopsis
Classification
Bacteria; Cyanobacteria; Cyanophyceae; Chroococcales; Xenococcaceae NCBI link to find]
Species
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NCBI: Taxonomy |
Genus species
Description and Significance
Chroococcidiopsis is a primitive, unicellular cyanobacteria. They can survive in diverse array of extreme conditions. They can survive under extreme temperatures or pHs, high levels of radiation, high concentrations of salt, and arid environments. It is an important microorganism to study due to their survival in this diverse array of environments as well as the theory that they played a part in contributing to our Earth to have a oxidizing atmosphere. They also are can contribute to toxins as well as a desiccation tolerance.
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
Chroococcidiopsis is a negative gram, spherical, photosynthetic cyanobacteria. It is prokaryotic meaning it lacks a nucleus. It is nitrogen fixing and producing oxygen gas and ammonia, nitrites, or nitrates. Heterocysts are commonly formed in low concentrations of nitrogen. The average cell has a average diameter of 2-6 μm and is surround by thin, colorless, extracellular polysaccharide sheathes. Thylakoid distributions are irregular throughout the cell. They are rarely found solitary, usually living in less spherical colonies. Cells are sometimes gathered in free-living agglomerations. Chroococcidiopsis differs from other cyanobacteria by forming tetrameric or dimeric Photosystem I reactions centers rather than the usual trimmeric complexes most cyanobacteria have. These bacterium have desiccation tolerance duethe EPS that surround them.
Ecology and Pathogenesis
Due to its primitive nature, it is thought that Chroococcidiopsis was a major contributor to transforming our atmosphere into to an oxidizing one y releasing oxygen into the atmosphere as a by product. Chroococcidiopsis can produce neurotoxic by products, such as β-N-methylamino-L-alanine that can create a health hazard in drinking water, particularly in underdeveloped countries. This can lead to malfunctioning of the nervous systems, and in severe cases death. Chroococcidiopsis’ ability to live in such extreme environments is being researched and thought to be able to survive and produce organic material needed to make soil on Mars therefore allowing life on the planet. The hope that they could potentially farm Chroococcidiopsis in Mars is to make farmable land is being researched.
References
Author
Page authored by Lauren Pifer, student of Prof. Jay Lennon at IndianaUniversity.
