Sulfolobus: Difference between revisions
Moved image to taxobox. Copyedits. Madigan reference. |
Copyedit cleanup. |
||
| Line 27: | Line 27: | ||
'''''Sulfolobus''''' is a [[genus]] of the [[prokaryote]] [[domain]] of [[archaea]]. |
'''''Sulfolobus''''' is a [[genus]] of the [[prokaryote]] [[domain]] of [[archaea]]. |
||
''Sulfolobus'' species grow in [[Hot spring|volcanic spring]]s with |
''Sulfolobus'' species grow in [[Hot spring|volcanic spring]]s with optimal growth occurring at [[pH]] 2-3 and [[temperature]]s of 75-80 °C, making them [[acidophile]]s and [[thermophiles]] respectively. ''Sulfolobus'' cells are irregularly shaped and [[flagella]]r. |
||
''Sulfolobus'' species are generally named after the location from which they were first isolated, e.g. ''S. solfataricus'' was first isolated in the [[Solfatara (volcano)]]. Other species can be found throughout the world in areas of volcanic or geothermal activity, such as geological formations called [[mud pot]]s, which are also known as solfatara (plural of solfatare). |
''Sulfolobus'' species are generally named after the location from which they were first isolated, e.g. ''S. solfataricus'' was first isolated in the [[Solfatara (volcano)]]. Other species can be found throughout the world in areas of volcanic or geothermal activity, such as geological formations called [[mud pot]]s, which are also known as ''solfatara'' (plural of solfatare). |
||
==Role in biotechnology== |
==Role in biotechnology== |
||
''Sulfolobus'' proteins are of interest for biotechnology and industrial use |
''Sulfolobus'' proteins are of interest for biotechnology and industrial use due to their [[thermostable]] nature. Intracellular proteins are not necessarily stable at low pH however, as ''Sulfolobus'' species maintain a significant pH gradient across the outer membrane. Like all [[Crenarchaeota]], they are metabolically dependent on sulfur: [[heterotroph]]ic or [[autotroph]]ic, their energy comes from the [[oxidation]] of [[sulfur]] and/or [[cellular respiration]] in which sulfur acts as the final electron acceptor. For example, ''S. tokodaii'' is known to [[oxidize]] [[hydrogen sulfide]] to [[sulfate]] intracellularly. |
||
==''Sulfolobus'' as a viral host== |
==''Sulfolobus'' as a viral host== |
||
Revision as of 19:45, 25 March 2006
| Sulfolobus | |
|---|---|
| |
| Electron micrograph of Sulfolobus infected with Sulfolobus virus STSV1. Bar = 1 μm. | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | |
| Phylum: | |
| Class: | |
| Order: | |
| Family: | |
| Genus: | Sulfolobus Brock et al. 1972
|
| Species | |
|
S. acidocaldarius | |
Sulfolobus is a genus of the prokaryote domain of archaea.
Sulfolobus species grow in volcanic springs with optimal growth occurring at pH 2-3 and temperatures of 75-80 °C, making them acidophiles and thermophiles respectively. Sulfolobus cells are irregularly shaped and flagellar.
Sulfolobus species are generally named after the location from which they were first isolated, e.g. S. solfataricus was first isolated in the Solfatara (volcano). Other species can be found throughout the world in areas of volcanic or geothermal activity, such as geological formations called mud pots, which are also known as solfatara (plural of solfatare).
Role in biotechnology
Sulfolobus proteins are of interest for biotechnology and industrial use due to their thermostable nature. Intracellular proteins are not necessarily stable at low pH however, as Sulfolobus species maintain a significant pH gradient across the outer membrane. Like all Crenarchaeota, they are metabolically dependent on sulfur: heterotrophic or autotrophic, their energy comes from the oxidation of sulfur and/or cellular respiration in which sulfur acts as the final electron acceptor. For example, S. tokodaii is known to oxidize hydrogen sulfide to sulfate intracellularly.
Sulfolobus as a viral host
Lysogenic viruses infect Sulfolobus for protection. The viruses cannot survive in the extremely acidic and hot conditions that Sulfolobus lives in, and so the viruses use Sulfolobus as protection against the harsh elements. This relationship allows the virus to replicate inside the bacteria without being destroyed by the environment.
Genome status
The complete genomes have been sequenced for S. acidocaldarius DSM 639 (2,225,959 nucleotides), S. solfataricus P2 (2,992,245 nucleotides), and S. tokodaii str. 7 (2,694,756 nucleotides).
References
- Madigan M; Martinko J (editors). (2005). Brock Biology of Microorganisms (11th ed. ed.). Prentice Hall. ISBN 0131443291.
{{cite book}}:|author=has generic name (help);|edition=has extra text (help)CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
External links
 | This bacteria-related article is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it. |