Sulfolobus solfataricus P2

Sulfolobus_solfataricus
Names Sulfolobus solfataricus P2
Accession numbers NC_002754
Background Sulfolobales grow in terrestrial volcanic hot springs with optimum growth occurring at pH 2-3 and a temperature of 75-80oC. Analysis of the genomes can provide information on the thermostability of proteins as well as characteristics of cells living in an acidic environment. There can also be industrial applications for these microbes. For example, S. tokodaii strain 7 is known to oxidize hydrogen sulfide to sulfate intracellularly, which has been used to treat industrial waste water.The archaeon Sulfolobus solfataricus has a circular chromosome that consists of 2,992,245 bp. Another sequenced species, S. tokodaii has a circular chromosome as well but is slightly smaller with 2,694,756 bp. Both species lack the genes ftsZ and minD, which has been characteristic of sequenced crenarchaeota. They also code for citrate synthase and two subunits of 2-oxoacid:ferredoxin oxidoreductase, which plays the same role as alpha-ketoglutarate dehydrogenase in the TCA cycle. This indicates that Sulfolobus has a TCA cycle system similar to that found in mitochondria of eukaryotes. Other genes in the respiratory chain which partake in the production of ATP were not similar to what is found in eukaryotes. Cytochrome c is one such example that plays an important role in electron transfer to oxygen in eukaryotes. This was also found in A. pernix K1. Since this step is important for an aerobic microorganism like Sulfolobus, it probably uses a different molecule for the same function or has a different pathway.Sulfolobus can grow either lithoautotrophically by oxidizing sulfur or chemoheterotrophically on reduced carbon compounds. Heterotrophic growth has only been observed in the presence of oxygen. The principle metabolic pathways are a glycolytic pathway, a pentose phosphate pathway, and the TCA cycle.S. solfataricus has been found in different areas including Yellowstone National Park, Mount St. Helens, Iceland, Italy, and Russia to name a few. Sulfolobus is located almost wherever there is volcanic activity. They strive in environments where the temperature is about 80oC with a pH at about 3 and sulfur present. Another species, S. tokodaii, has been located in an acidic spa in Beppu Hot Springs, Kyushu, Japan. (From http://microbewiki.kenyon.edu/index.php/Sulfolobus) (MicrobeWiki: Sulfolobus)
Taxonomy
Kingdom:Archaea
Phylum:Crenarchaeota
Class:Thermoprotei
Order:Sulfolobales
Family:Sulfolobaceae
Genus:Sulfolobus
Species:solfataricus
Strain P2
Complete Yes
Sequencing centre
(03-OCT-2001) National Center for Biotechnology Information, NIH, Bethesda, MD 20894, USA
(24-APR-2001) Copenhagen University, Denmark
Universite Paris-Sud, France
Wageningen University, The Netherlands
Sequencing quality Level 6: Finished
Sequencing depth NA
Sequencing method NA
Isolation site volcanic hot spring
Isolation country Italy
Number of replicons 1
Gram staining properties NA
Shape Cocci
Mobility No
Flagellar presence No
Number of membranes 1
Oxygen requirements Aerobic
Optimal temperature 85.0
Temperature range Hyperthermophilic
Habitat Specialized
Biotic relationship Free living
Host name NA
Cell arrangement Singles
Sporulation Nonsporulating
Metabolism Sulfur metabolizing
Energy source Lithotroph
Diseases NA
Pathogenicity No