NASA Logo

NTRS

NTRS - NASA Technical Reports Server

Back to Results
Were the original eubacteria thermophiles?Thermotoga maritima is one of the more unusual eubacteria: It is highly thermophilic, growing at temperatures higher than any other eubacterium; its cell wall appears to have a unique structure and its lipids a unique composition; and the organism is surrounded by a loose-fitting sheath of unknown function. Its phenotypic uniqueness is matched by its phylogenetic position; Thermotoga maritima represents the deepest known branching in the eubacterial line of descent, as measured by ribosomal RNA sequence comparisons. T. maritima also represents the most slowly evolving of eubacterial lineages. The fact that the two deepest branchings in the eubacterial line of descent (the other, the green non-sulfur bacteria and relatives, i.e. Chloroflexus, Thermomicrobium, etc.) are both basically thermophilic and slowly evolving, strongly suggests that all eubacteria have ultimately arisen from a thermophilic ancestor.
Document ID
20040089104
Acquisition Source
Legacy CDMS
Document Type
Reprint (Version printed in journal)
Authors
Achenbach-Richter, L.
(University of Illinois Urbana 61801, United States)
Gupta, R.
Stetter, K. O.
Woese, C. R.
Johnson, P. C.
Date Acquired
August 21, 2013
Publication Date
January 1, 1987
Publication Information
Publication: Systematic and applied microbiology
Volume: 9
ISSN: 0723-2020
Subject Category
Exobiology
Funding Number(s)
CONTRACT_GRANT: SFB4-3
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Other
Keywords
NASA Discipline Exobiology
NASA Center JSC
Non-NASA Center

Available Downloads

There are no available downloads for this record.
No Preview Available