Thermoproteus neutrophilus

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Classification

Archaea; Crenarchaeota; Thermoprotei; Thermoproteales; Thermoproteaceae [Others may be used. Use NCBI link to find]

Species

neutrophilus

NCBI: Taxonomy

Genus species Thermoproteus neutrophilus

Description and Significance

Describe the appearance, habitat, etc. of the organism, and why you think it is important.

Microorganisms belonging to the genus Thermoproteus are stiff rods with "golf club" like protrusions on their ends. This structure may contribute to budding [3].

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?

Thermoproteus neutrophilus has 1.77 million base pairs. There are 2053 predicted genes. It was originally classified in 1983 as belonging the the Thermoproteus genus. However, based on rRNA and protein based phylogenetic trees, it has become clear that it is more closely related to the Pyrobaculum genus [5].

Cell Structure, Metabolism and Life Cycle

Interesting features of cell structure; how it gains energy; what important molecules it produces.

Thermoproteus neutrophilus is an extreme thermophile, surviving at temperature up to 95 C. It is an anaerobically growing, sulfur reducing autotroph.

Thermoproteus neutrophilus cells are aseptate rods of approximately .4 um in diameter and anywhere between 1-80 um in length. They are nonmotile.

Thermoproteus neutrophilus are Gram-negative staining. The cell wall structure of Thermoproteus neutrophilus is somewhat unique. It consists of a cytoplasmic membrane and a hexagonally packed S-layer, with no murein sacculus. The outer side of the S-layer is smooth, while the cytoplasmic surface is sculptured, adorned with dome-shaped protrusions. The S-layers have a high proportion of hydrophobic amino acids, and pores of 6 nm in diameter. It is the paracrystalline structure of the S-layer that makes it incredibly stable even in the presence of extreme heat and chemical treatment [2].

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.

Members of the genus Thermoproteus are not human pathogens. Thermoproteus inhabits solfataric areas, growing at extremely high temperatures at near neutral pH [1].

References

1. Huber, R. Huber, H. Stetter, K.O. Toward the ecology of hyperthermophiles: biotypes, new isolation strategies and novel metabolic properties. FEMS Microbiology Reviews. 2000. Volume 24. p. 615-623

2. Messner, P. Pum, D. Margit, S. Stetter, K. Sleytr, U. Ultrastructure of the Cell Envelope of the Archaebacteria Thermoproteus tenax and Thermoproteus neutrophilus. Journal of Bacteriology. 1986. Volume 166 Number 3 p. 1046-1054

3. Stetter, K.O. Fiala, G. Huber, G. Huber, R. Segerer, A. Hyperthermophilic Microorganisms. FEMS Microbiology Reviews. 1990. Volume 75. p. 117-124.

4. Strass, G. Eisenreich, W. Bacher, A. Fuchs, G. 13C-NMR study of autotrophic CO2 fixation pathways in the sulfur-reducing Achaebacterium Thermoproteus neutrophilus and the in the phototrophic Eubacterium Chloroflexus aurantiacus. European Journal of Biochemistry. 1992. Volume 205. p. 853-866

5. Thermoproteus neutrophilus V24Sta (Thermoproteus neutrophilus V24Sta) Genome Browser Gateway. University of Califonia, Santa Cruz. Genome Bioinformatics Group of UC Santa Cruz. Date accessed: 27 February 2011. http://microbes.ucsc.edu/cgi-bin/hgGateway?org=Thermoproteus+neutrophilus+V24Sta&db=therNeut1&hgsid=544039

Author

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

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