Halobacterium sp. NRC-1

Halobacterium_sp.
Names Halobacterium sp. NRC-1
Accession numbers NC_001869, NC_002607, NC_002608
Background Halobacteria are halophilic microorganisms, which means they grow in extremely high salinity environments. This archaeon can act as a good model for some aspects of eukaryotic biology, such as DNA replication, transcription, and translation. Comparing a halophile genome to that of other prokaryotes should give insight into microbial adaptation to extreme conditions.Halobacterium species are rod shaped and enveloped by a single lipid bilayer membrane surrounded by an S-layer made from the cell-surface glycoprotein. Halobacteria grow on amino acids in aerobic conditions. Although Halobacterium NRC-1 contains genes for glucose degradation as well as genes for enzymes of a fatty acid oxidation pathway, it does not seem able to use these as energy sources. Even though the cytoplasm retains an osmotic equilibrium with the hypersaline environment, the cell maintains a high potassium concentration. It does this by using many active transporters.Halobacteria can be found in highly saline lakes such as the Great Salt Lake, the Dead Sea, and Lake Magadi. Halobacterium can be identified in bodies of water by the light-detecting pigment bacteriorhodopsin, which not only provides the archaeon with chemical energy, but gives it a reddish hue as well. An optimal temperature for growth has been observed at 37oC.(From http://microbewiki.kenyon.edu/index.php/Halobacterium) (MicrobeWiki: Halobacterium)
Taxonomy
Kingdom:Archaea
Phylum:Euryarchaeota
Class:Halobacteria
Order:Halobacteriales
Family:Halobacteriaceae
Genus:Halobacterium
Species:salinarum
Strain NRC-1
Complete Yes
Sequencing centre (14-JUL-2000) Institute for Systems Biology, 4225 Roosevelt Way NE, Seattle, WA 98105, USA
(27-SEP-2001) National Center for Biotechnology Information, NIH, Bethesda, MD 20894, USA
Sequencing quality Level 6: Finished
Sequencing depth NA
Sequencing method WGS
Isolation site freshwater
Isolation country NA
Number of replicons 3
Gram staining properties Negative
Shape Bacilli
Mobility No
Flagellar presence NA
Number of membranes NA
Oxygen requirements Facultative
Optimal temperature 42.0
Temperature range Mesophilic
Habitat Specialized
Biotic relationship Free living
Host name NA
Cell arrangement NA
Sporulation Nonsporulating
Metabolism NA
Energy source Chemoorganotroph
Diseases NA
Pathogenicity NA