Caldicellulosiruptor saccharolyticus DSM 8903

Caldicellulosiruptor_saccharolyticus
Names Caldicellulosiruptor saccharolyticus DSM 8903
Accession numbers NC_009437
Background Caldicellulosiruptor saccharolyticus (strain ATCC 43494 / DSM 8903) is a thermophilic (70 degrees Celsius), strictly anaerobic asporogenous bacterium phylogenetically associated with the Firmicutes. This organism was isolated from a thermal spring in New Zealand. It hydrolyses a variety of polymeric carbohydrates (cellulose, hemicellulose, pectin, a -glucan (starch, glycogen), b-glucan (lichenan, laminarin), guar gum) to acetate, lactate, hydrogen and CO2. Trace amounts of ethanol are formed as well. Phylogenetic analysis showed that it constitutes a novel lineage within the Bacillus/Clostridium subphylum of the Gram-positive bacteria. According to a recent study by the US Department of Energy and the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (DOE/NREL), the desired future biofuel producer would have several features that distinguish it from currently used microorganisms: (i) high yield and low product inhibition, (ii) simultaneous utilisation of sugars (cellulose, hemicellulose, pectin), and (iii) growth at elevated temperatures: robust thermophilic organisms, with a decreased risk of contamination. A bacterium that meets all these criteria is Caldicellulosiruptor saccharolyticus, which is anticipated to play an important role in the development of renewable energy. This thermophilic bacterium efficiently converts an extraordinarily wide range of biomass components to the potential energy source hydrogen. Importantly, pilot fermentation experiments revealed the simultaneous degradation of glucose and xylose. Comparison of its genome with that of related microbes, also with potential for energy production, is expected to result in a gain of fundamental insight in the metabolic capacity and its regulation. Follow-up studies will be aimed at exploiting that knowledge for the engineering of an optimised microbial energy production system. (EBI Integr8)
Taxonomy
Kingdom:Bacteria
Phylum:Firmicutes
Class:NA
Order:NA
Family:NA
Genus:NA
Species:NA
Strain DSM 8903
Complete Yes
Sequencing centre (08-MAY-2007) National Center for Biotechnology Information, NIH, Bethesda, MD 20894, USA
(16-APR-2007) US DOE Joint Genome Institute, 2800 Mitchell Drive B100, Walnut Creek, CA 94598-1698, USA
Sequencing quality Level 6: Finished
Sequencing depth NA
Sequencing method Sanger
Isolation site Wood, Hot spring in New Zealand
Isolation country New Zealand
Number of replicons 1
Gram staining properties Positive
Shape Bacilli
Mobility Yes
Flagellar presence Yes
Number of membranes 1
Oxygen requirements Anaerobic
Optimal temperature NA
Temperature range Thermophilic
Habitat Specialized
Biotic relationship Free living
Host name NA
Cell arrangement Pairs, Singles
Sporulation Nonsporulating
Metabolism Biomass degrader
Cellulose degrader
Nitrogen producer
Energy source NA
Diseases NA
Pathogenicity No