Methanocaldococcus jannaschii

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Methanocaldococcus jannaschii
Scientific classification
Domain:
Archaea
Kingdom:
Euryarchaeota
Phylum:
Euryarchaeota
Class:
Methanococci
Order:
Methanococcales
Family:
Methanocaldococcaceae
Genus:
Methanocaldococcus
Species:
M. jannaschii
Binomial name
Methanocaldococcus jannaschii
Synonyms
  • Methanococcus jannaschii (Jones 1983)

Methanocaldococcus jannaschii (formerly Methanococcus jannaschii) is a

sequenced.[1] The sequencing identified many genes unique to the archaea. Many of the synthesis pathways for methanogenic cofactors were worked out biochemically in this organism,[2]
as were several other archaeal-specific metabolic pathways.

History

Methanocaldococcus jannaschii was isolated from a submarine hydrothermal vent at

white smoker" chimney which revealed evidence of Methanocaldococcus jannaschii living in this extreme habitat of temperatures from 48 - 46 °C. Like many kinds of extremophiles, M. jannaschii possess the ability to adapt to high temperatures, high pressure, and moderate salinity.[4]

Sequencing

Methanocaldococcus jannaschii was sequenced by a group at TIGR led by Craig Venter[5] using whole-genome shotgun sequencing. M. jannaschii represented the first member of the Archaea to have its genome sequenced. According to Venter, the unique features of the genome provided strong evidence that there are three domains of life.[5] After M. jannaschii was sequenced using whole-genome random sequencing, several interesting characteristics were determined. Methanocaldococcus has a large circular chromosome that is 1.66 mega base pairs long with a G+C content of 31.4%. The species also has a large circular extra-chromosome and small circular extra-chromosome.[6]

Taxonomy

Methanocaldoccus jannaschii is a member of the genus Methanocaldococcus (previously a part of Methanococcus) and is therefore sometimes referred to as a "class I" methanogen (e.g. [1]).

Biology and biochemistry

Methanocaldococcus jannaschii is a thermophilic

5,10-methenyltetrahydromethanopterin hydrogenase,[7] a ferredoxin hydrogenase (eha), and a coenzyme F420 hydrogenase.[8]

inteins: 19 were discovered by one study.[9]

Many novel metabolic pathways have been worked out in M. jannaschii, including the pathways for synthesis of many methanogenic cofactors,

single-pass transmembrane proteins from M. jannaschii was compiled in Membranome database.[citation needed
]

Relevance and Research

Due to the amount of information that was gained from

catalytic mechanisms. Research on mutagenesis has focused on seeing if these enzymes, which are typically optimal at high temperatures, can be just as active in low temperatures.[12] M. jannaschii has been a model system for in vivo genetic studies.[13] Since M. jannaschii is an extremophile several astrobiology research projects have begun looking into methane producing bacteria.[14]

References

  1. S2CID 41481616
    .
  2. ^
    PMID 11153270
    .
  3. ^
    S2CID 33277659
    .
  4. PMID 15810431
    .
  5. ^ a b Nicholas Wade (23 August 1996). "Deep sea yields a clue to life's origin". New York Times.
  6. ISSN 0036-8075
    .
  7. PMID 14686932
    .
  8. PMID 20235826
    .
  9. PMID 15253435
    .
  10. PMID 12603336
    .
  11. PMID 9555910
    .
  12. PMID 11238984
    .
  13. ISSN 0950-382X
    .
  14. PMID 31913316
    .

Further reading

External links

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