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A korarchaeal genome reveals insights into the evolution of the Archaea
Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 2008
The candidate division Korarchaeota comprises a group of uncultivated microorganisms that, by their small subunit rRNA phylogeny, may have diverged early from the major archaeal phyla Crenarchaeota and Euryarchaeota. Here, we report the initial characterization of a member of the Korarchaeota with the proposed name, ''Candidatus Korarchaeum cryptofilum,'' which exhibits an ultrathin filamentous morphology. To investigate possible ancestral relationships between deep-branching Korarchaeota and other phyla, we used whole-genome shotgun sequencing to construct a complete composite korarchaeal genome from enriched cells. The genome was assembled into a single contig 1.59 Mb in length with a G ؉ C content of 49%. Of the 1,617 predicted protein-coding genes, 1,382 (85%) could be assigned to a revised set of archaeal Clusters of Orthologous Groups (COGs). The predicted gene functions suggest that the organism relies on a simple mode of peptide fermentation for carbon and energy and lacks the ability to synthesize de novo purines, CoA, and several other cofactors. Phylogenetic analyses based on conserved single genes and concatenated protein sequences positioned the korarchaeote as a deep archaeal lineage with an apparent affinity to the Crenarchaeota. However, the predicted gene content revealed that several conserved cellular systems, such as cell division, DNA replication, and tRNA maturation, resemble the counterparts in the Euryarchaeota. In light of the known composition of archaeal genomes, the Korarchaeota might have retained a set of cellular features that represents the ancestral archaeal form. microbial cultivation ͉ genomics ͉ hyperthermophiles ͉ Korarchaeota ͉ phylogeny
PLoS ONE, 2011
Here, we report on the complete genome sequence of the hyperthermophilic Crenarchaeum Thermoproteus tenax (strain Kra1, DSM 2078 T ) a type strain of the crenarchaeotal order Thermoproteales. Its circular 1.84-megabase genome harbors no extrachromosomal elements and 2,051 open reading frames are identified, covering 90.6% of the complete sequence, which represents a high coding density. Derived from the gene content, T. tenax is a representative member of the Crenarchaeota. The organism is strictly anaerobic and sulfur-dependent with optimal growth at 86uC and pH 5.6. One particular feature is the great metabolic versatility, which is not accompanied by a distinct increase of genome size or information density as compared to other Crenarchaeota. T. tenax is able to grow chemolithoautotrophically (CO 2 /H 2 ) as well as chemoorganoheterotrophically in presence of various organic substrates. All pathways for synthesizing the 20 proteinogenic amino acids are present. In addition, two presumably complete gene sets for NADH:quinone oxidoreductase (complex I) were identified in the genome and there is evidence that either NADH or reduced ferredoxin might serve as electron donor. Beside the typical archaeal A 0 A 1 -ATP synthase, a membrane-bound pyrophosphatase is found, which might contribute to energy conservation. Surprisingly, all genes required for dissimilatory sulfate reduction are present, which is confirmed by growth experiments. Mentionable is furthermore, the presence of two proteins (ParA family ATPase, actin-like protein) that might be involved in cell division in Thermoproteales, where the ESCRT system is absent, and of genes involved in genetic competence (DprA, ComF) that is so far unique within Archaea.
Extremophiles, 2014
The complete genome of the obligately anaerobic crenarchaeote Fervidicoccus fontis Kam940 T , a terrestrial hot spring inhabitant with a growth optimum of 65-70°C, has been sequenced and analyzed. The small 1.3-Mb genome encodes several extracellular proteases and no other extracellular hydrolases. No complete pathways of carbohydrate catabolism were found. Genes coding for enzymes necessary for amino acid transamination and further oxidative decarboxylation are present. The genome encodes no mechanisms of acyl-CoA and acetyl-CoA oxidation. Two [NiFe]-hydrogenases are encoded: a membrane-bound energy-converting hydrogenase and a cytoplasmic one. The ATP-synthase is H ? -dependent as inferred from the amino acid sequence of the membrane rotor subunit. On the whole, genome analysis shows F. fontis to be a peptidolytic heterotroph with a restricted biosynthetic potential, which is in accordance with its phenotypic properties. The analysis of phylogenetic markers and of the distribution of best blastp hits of F. fontis proteins in the available genomes of Crenarchaeota supports distinct phylogenetic position of the order Fervidicoccales as a separate lineage adjoining the heterogeneous order Desulfurococcales. In addition, certain F. fontis genomic features correlate with its adaptation to temperatures of 60-80°C, which are lower than temperatures preferred by Desulfurococcales. Keywords Fervidicoccus fontis Á Fervidicoccales Á Crenarchaeota Á Extreme thermophile Á Obligate anaerobe Á Complete genome A. V. Lebedinsky and A. V. Mardanov contributed equally to this work.
Journal of Bacteriology, 2009
Desulfurococcus kamchatkensis is an anaerobic organotrophic hyperthermophilic crenarchaeon isolated from a terrestrial hot spring. Its genome consists of a single circular chromosome of 1,365,223 bp with no extrachromosomal elements. A total of 1,474 protein-encoding genes were annotated, among which 205 are exclusive for D. kamchatkensis. The search for a replication origin site revealed a single region coinciding with a global extreme of the nucleotide composition disparity curve and containing a set of crenarchaeon-type origin recognition boxes. Unlike in most archaea, two genes encoding homologs of the eukaryotic initiator proteins Orc1 and Cdc6 are located distantly from this site. A number of mobile elements are present in the genome, including seven transposons representing IS607 and IS200/IS605 families and multiple copies of miniature inverted repeat transposable elements. Two large clusters of regularly interspaced repeats are present; none of the spacer sequences matches known archaeal extrachromosomal elements, except one spacer matches the sequence of a resident gene of D. kamchatkensis. Many of the predicted metabolic enzymes are associated with the fermentation of peptides and sugars, including more than 30 peptidases with diverse specificities, a number of polysaccharide degradation enzymes, and many transporters. Consistently, the genome encodes both enzymes of the modified Embden-Meyerhof pathway of glucose oxidation and a set of enzymes needed for gluconeogenesis. The genome structure and content reflect the organism's nutritionally diverse, competitive natural environment, which is periodically invaded by viruses and other mobile elements.
Applied and Environmental Microbiology, 2010
Acidilobus saccharovorans is an anaerobic, organotrophic, thermoacidophilic crenarchaeon isolated from a terrestrial hot spring. We report the complete genome sequence of A. saccharovorans, which has permitted the prediction of genes for Embden-Meyerhof and Entner-Doudoroff pathways and genes associated with the oxidative tricarboxylic acid cycle. The electron transfer chain is branched with two sites of proton translocation and is linked to the reduction of elemental sulfur and thiosulfate. The genomic data suggest an important role of the order Acidilobales in thermoacidophilic ecosystems whereby its members can perform a complete oxidation of organic substrates, closing the anaerobic carbon cycle.
Mesophilic crenarchaeota: proposal for a third archaeal phylum, the Thaumarchaeota
Nature Reviews Microbiology, 2008
The RNA component of the small subunit of the ribosome (referred to here as SSU rRNA) has been the 'Rosetta stone' of modern evolutionary studies 1 . In particular, the discovery of the archaeal domain and establishment of the evolutionary relationships between archaeal species were based entirely on rRNA studies 2-5 . These analyses led to the proposal that the archaeal domain should be divided into two phyla, the Euryarchaeota (from the Greek 'euryos', meaning diversity) and the Crenarchaeota (from the Greek 'crenos', meaning spring or origin) 6 . At that time, Abstract | The archaeal domain is currently divided into two major phyla, the Euryarchaeota and Crenarchaeota. During the past few years, diverse groups of uncultivated mesophilic archaea have been discovered and affiliated with the Crenarchaeota. It was recently recognized that these archaea have a major role in geochemical cycles. Based on the first genome sequence of a crenarchaeote, Cenarchaeum symbiosum, we show that these mesophilic archaea are different from hyperthermophilic Crenarchaeota and branch deeper than was previously assumed. Our results indicate that C. symbiosum and its relatives are not Crenarchaeota, but should be considered as a third archaeal phylum, which we propose to name Thaumarchaeota (from the Greek 'thaumas', meaning wonder).
An integrated analysis of the genome of the hyperthermophilic archaeon Pyrococcus abyssi
Molecular Microbiology, 2003
The hyperthermophilic euryarchaeon Pyrococcus abyssi and the related species Pyrococcus furiosus and Pyrococcus horikoshii , whose genomes have been completely sequenced, are presently used as model organisms in different laboratories to study archaeal DNA replication and gene expression and to develop genetic tools for hyperthermophiles. We have performed an extensive re-annotation of the genome of P. abyssi to obtain an integrated view of its phylogeny, molecular biology and physiology. Many new functions are predicted for both informational and operational proteins. Moreover, several candidate genes have been identified that might encode missing links in key metabolic pathways, some of which have unique biochemical features. The great majority of Pyrococcus proteins are typical archaeal proteins and their phylogenetic pattern agrees with its position near the root of the archaeal tree. However, proteins probably from bacterial origin, including some from mesophilic bacteria, are also present in the P. abyssi genome.
Metabolic studies of the hyperthermophilic archaeon, Pyrococcus furiosus, using DNA microarrays
2003
This research developed a DNA microarray-based system for Pyrococcus furiosus and used this molecular tool to generate data to increase the understanding of the physiology of P. furiosus. Initially microarrays containing 271 ORFs were constructed and were used to study the differential regulation of these ORFs in cells grown in the presence and absence of elemental sulfur (So). Most of the ORFs whose expression was downregulated appeared to be related to the three multi-subunit hydrogenases in this organism, of which two are cytoplasmic and one is membrane bound. Down-regulation of the expression of these ORFs correlates well with the hydrogenase activities measured in cell-free extracts, indicating that none of these hydrogenases are directly involved in So metabolism. Two conserved hypothetical ORFs, now termed SipA and SipB (for sulfurinduced protein), were highly (>25-fold) up-regulated in So cultures and might participate in a novel So-reducing system. Using the methods deve...