Nanoarchaeum equitans: Difference between revisions
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==Description and significance== | ==Description and significance== | ||
''Nanoarchaeum equitans'', which means "riding the fire sphere", is a hyperthermophile that also acts as an obligate symbiont to the archaea ''Ignicoccus hospitalis''. It is spherical and is only 400 nm in diameter, making it one of the smallest known living organisms. It is also the only known archaeal parasite. | |||
It was first discovered in 2002 in an undersea hydrothermal vent off the coast of Iceland by Karl Stetter. it was first seen as tiny dots on the surface of ''Ignicoccus hospitalis''. Its genome is extremely small, making it one of the smallest non-viral genomes ever sequenced. The significance of its genome was that ss rRNA-based sequencing comparisons placed its branching point early in the archaeal lineage, representing the new archaeal kingdom Nanoarchaeota. As such, it is the only known member of this lineage. | |||
==Genome structure== | ==Genome structure== |
Revision as of 22:44, 28 August 2007
A Microbial Biorealm page on the genus Nanoarchaeum equitans
Classification
Higher order taxa
Archaea; Nanoarchaeota; Nanoarchaeum
Species
Nanoarchaeum equitans
Description and significance
Nanoarchaeum equitans, which means "riding the fire sphere", is a hyperthermophile that also acts as an obligate symbiont to the archaea Ignicoccus hospitalis. It is spherical and is only 400 nm in diameter, making it one of the smallest known living organisms. It is also the only known archaeal parasite.
It was first discovered in 2002 in an undersea hydrothermal vent off the coast of Iceland by Karl Stetter. it was first seen as tiny dots on the surface of Ignicoccus hospitalis. Its genome is extremely small, making it one of the smallest non-viral genomes ever sequenced. The significance of its genome was that ss rRNA-based sequencing comparisons placed its branching point early in the archaeal lineage, representing the new archaeal kingdom Nanoarchaeota. As such, it is the only known member of this lineage.
Genome structure
Size and content of the genome. How many chromosomes? Circular or linear? other interesting features? What is known about its sequence? Plasmids?
Cell structure and metabolism
Interesting features and/or cell structures. How it gains energy. Important molecules it produces.
Ecology
Interactions with other organisms, contributions to the environment, effect on the environment.
Pathology
Does this organism cause disease? Does it have a host? Virulence factors as well as patient symptoms.
Application to Biotechnology
Does this organism produce any useful compounds or enzymes? What are they and how are they used?
Current Research
Summaries of recent research here. At least 3 required.
References
Edited by Robert Rishwain, student of Rachel Larsen and Kit Pogliano