Chemolithoautotrophic metabolism of anaerobic extremely thermophilic archaebacteria (original) (raw)

Nature volume 301, pages 511–513 (1983)Cite this article

Abstract

Several types of extremely thermophilic archaebacteria have recently been isolated from solfataric water holes, hot springs and hot sea floors1–6. It has been shown that some of them can live using sulphur respiration of reduced carbon substrates as a source of energy, a type of metabolism previously described for the eubacterium _Desulfuromonas_7. We report here that several extremely thermophilic archaebacteria can live with carbon dioxide as their sole carbon source, obtaining energy from the oxidation of hydrogen by sulphur, producing hydrogen sulphide. They are thus capable of a new type of anaerobic, purely chemolithoautotrophic metabolism, a possible primaeval mode of life.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Universität Regensburg, Lehrstuhl für Mikrobiologie, 8400, Regensburg, FRG
    F. Fischer & K. O. Stetter
  2. Max-Planck-Institut für Biochemie, 8033, Martinsried, FRG
    W. Zillig & G. Schreiber

Authors

  1. F. Fischer
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  2. W. Zillig
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  3. K. O. Stetter
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  4. G. Schreiber
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Fischer, F., Zillig, W., Stetter, K. et al. Chemolithoautotrophic metabolism of anaerobic extremely thermophilic archaebacteria.Nature 301, 511–513 (1983). https://doi.org/10.1038/301511a0

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