Desulfotalea psychrophila: Difference between revisions
| Line 16: | Line 16: | ||
==Description and Significance== | ==Description and Significance== | ||
Desulfotalea psychrophila is a gram-negative sulfate-reducing proteobacterium that is circular in shape and composed of a single chromosome approximately 3.5 million base pairs in length. The chromosome consists of two small plasmids and roughly 3100 predicted genes. The delta-proteobacterium is a marine organism which can be found in marine sediments that are permanently cold. This organism was first discovered in arctic marine sediment off the coast of Svalbard. Desulfotalea psychrophila can withstand extremely cold temperatures and can live in waters below 0°C. D. psychrophila has very little in common with other sulfate-reducing bacteria. A photograph taken of the bacteria with an electron microscope reveals that D. psychrophila is curved in appearance. The organism breaks down sulfur as suggested by its name. D. psychrophila is believed to play an important role in energy cycles, as it is an abundant member of the microbial community. The bacterium plays an important role in energy cycles by contributing to global carbon and sulfur cycles. The organism functions at an increased rate in colder waters, which could mean the species may be an important player in prevention of global warming. | Desulfotalea psychrophila is a gram-negative sulfate-reducing proteobacterium that is circular in shape and composed of a single chromosome approximately 3.5 million base pairs in length. The chromosome consists of two small plasmids and roughly 3100 predicted genes. The delta-proteobacterium is a marine organism which can be found in marine sediments that are permanently cold. This organism was first discovered in arctic marine sediment off the coast of Svalbard. Desulfotalea psychrophila can withstand extremely cold temperatures and can live in waters below 0°C. D. psychrophila has very little in common with other sulfate-reducing bacteria. The bacterium is strictly anaerobic. A photograph taken of the bacteria with an electron microscope reveals that D. psychrophila is curved in appearance. The organism breaks down sulfur as suggested by its name. D. psychrophila is believed to play an important role in energy cycles, as it is an abundant member of the microbial community. The bacterium plays an important role in energy cycles by contributing to global carbon and sulfur cycles. The organism functions at an increased rate in colder waters, which could mean the species may be an important player in prevention of global warming. | ||
==Genome Structure== | ==Genome Structure== | ||
Revision as of 01:23, 27 April 2009
Classification
Bacteria; Proteobacteria; Deltaproteobacteria; Desulfobacterales; Desulfobulbaceae
Species
|
NCBI: Taxonomy |
Desulfotalea psychrophila
Description and Significance
Desulfotalea psychrophila is a gram-negative sulfate-reducing proteobacterium that is circular in shape and composed of a single chromosome approximately 3.5 million base pairs in length. The chromosome consists of two small plasmids and roughly 3100 predicted genes. The delta-proteobacterium is a marine organism which can be found in marine sediments that are permanently cold. This organism was first discovered in arctic marine sediment off the coast of Svalbard. Desulfotalea psychrophila can withstand extremely cold temperatures and can live in waters below 0°C. D. psychrophila has very little in common with other sulfate-reducing bacteria. The bacterium is strictly anaerobic. A photograph taken of the bacteria with an electron microscope reveals that D. psychrophila is curved in appearance. The organism breaks down sulfur as suggested by its name. D. psychrophila is believed to play an important role in energy cycles, as it is an abundant member of the microbial community. The bacterium plays an important role in energy cycles by contributing to global carbon and sulfur cycles. The organism functions at an increased rate in colder waters, which could mean the species may be an important player in prevention of global warming.
Genome Structure
The genome of Desulfotalea psychrophila strain LSv54 is one circular chromosome 3.523 million base pairs in length. The chromosome consists of two plasmids, 121 586 bp and 14 663 bp in length, along with 3118 predicted genes. D. psychrophila's genome was the first sequenced of any psychrophillic bacterium in 2004. Genome sequencing shows that Desulfotalea psychrophila is unique in that the microbe lacks homologues of several c-type cytochromes that are present in most sulfate-reducing lineages of the delta-proteobacteria.
Cell Structure, Metabolism and Life Cycle
Interesting features of cell structure; how it gains energy; what important molecules it produces.
Desulfotalea psychrophila has one polar flagella surrounded by a double membrane.
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
Author
Page authored by _____, student of Prof. Jay Lennon at Michigan State University.
