Geoglobus ahangari: Difference between revisions

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Geoglobus ahangari can operate in an autotrophic sense by using hydrogen as an electron donor while reducing Fe(III) oxide.  This process produces extracellular waste in the form of magnetite.
Geoglobus ahangari can operate in an autotrophic sense by using hydrogen as an electron donor while reducing Fe(III) oxide.  This process produces extracellular waste in the form of magnetite.


In contrast to autotrophy, G. ahangari also acts as a chemoorganotroph by oxidizing pyruvate, acetate, palmitate or stearate while reducing Fe(III).
In contrast to autotrophy, G. ahangari also acts as a chemoorganotroph by oxidizing pyruvate, acetate, palmitate or stearate while reducing Fe(III).  It also has the ability to oxidize long-chain fatty acids.  Both long-chain fatty acids and compounds such as acetate represent byproducts and debris of many other organisms, which G. ahangari uses to drive its own chemical processes.


==Ecology and Pathogenesis==
==Ecology and Pathogenesis==

Revision as of 20:17, 21 April 2011

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Classification

Domain Archaea; Phylum Euryarchaeota; Class Archaeoglobi; Order Archaeoglobales; Family Archaeoglobaceae [Others may be used. Use NCBI link to find]

Species

NCBI: Taxonomy

Geoglobus ahangari

Description and Significance

G. ahangari is an anaerobic, coccoid-shaped member of Archaea that ranges from 0.3-0.5 micrometers in diameter. As seen under phase contrast microscopy, the cells are usually found alone or in couples and all have a single flagellum that is used for movement (mainly tumbling motility). Transmission Electron Microscopy releaved that the cell membranes of G. ahangari are similar to other members of Archaea, possesing three layers- a cytoplasmic membrane, a periplasmic space and a layer on the outer surface.

Originally found near a hydrothermal vent in the Gulf of California, G. ahangari is a hyperthermophile that can grow both autotrophically or chemoorganotrophically depending on the available electron sources. It is biologically and ecologically significant because it was the first anaerobe isolated that had the ability to use long-chain fatty acids as a source of energy. It was also the first archaeon cultured to have the ability to generate energy from the coupling of hydrogen gas to the reduction of iron. Geoglobus ahangari is most closely related to members of Ferroglobus and Archaeoglobus, though G. ahangari does not have fluorescent properties.

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.

Cellular structures of G. ahangari are similar to other archaea. The only notable feature of this organism is its one monopolar flagellum that serves motility purposes.

Geoglobus ahangari can operate in an autotrophic sense by using hydrogen as an electron donor while reducing Fe(III) oxide. This process produces extracellular waste in the form of magnetite.

In contrast to autotrophy, G. ahangari also acts as a chemoorganotroph by oxidizing pyruvate, acetate, palmitate or stearate while reducing Fe(III). It also has the ability to oxidize long-chain fatty acids. Both long-chain fatty acids and compounds such as acetate represent byproducts and debris of many other organisms, which G. ahangari uses to drive its own chemical processes.

Ecology and Pathogenesis

Habitat; symbiosis; biogeochemical significance; contributions to environment.

G. ahangari was originally obtained from a hydrothermal vent at a depth of 2000 meters in Guaymas Basin in the Gulf of California. This organism can be isolated using a relatively new technique of incorporating iron oxide into solid medium to be used as an electron acceptor. The environmental ranges for G. ahangari were measured in the lab to be 65-90°C for temperature, 5.0-7.6 for pH, and 9.0-38 g/l NaCl for salinity. Optimal grown occurred at 88°C and a pH of 7.0.

The biogeochemical significance of G. ahangari is related to it's ability to use hydrogen emitted from geothermal marine vents as an electron donor when coupled to iron reduction. This autotrophy with use of Fe(III) oxide results in the accumulation of magnetite.

This organism is susceptible to the antibiotics: trimethoprim, rifampicin, ampicillin, chloramphenicol, penicillin G, and phosphyomycin at all at different concentrations for each. However, cycloheximide, kanamycin, streptomycin, puromycin, novobiocin, and neomycin sulfate failed to inhibit growth of G. ahangari.

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.

[http://ijs.sgmjournals.org/cgi/reprint/52/3/719 K. Kashefi, J. M. Tor, D. E. Holmes, C. V. Gaw Van Praagh, A. L. Reysenbach, and D. R. Lovley Geoglobus ahangari gen. nov., sp. nov., a novel hyperthermophilic archaeon capable of oxidizing organic acids and growing autotrophically on hydrogen with Fe(III) serving as the sole electron acceptor Int J Syst Evol Microbiol, May 2002; 52: 719 - 728.]

Author

Page authored by _____, student of Prof. Jay Lennon at Michigan State University.

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