Pyrococcus furiosus sp. nov. represents a novel genus of marine heterotrophic archaebacteria growing optimally at 100°C

Ten strains representing a novel genus of marine thermophilic archaebacteria growing at between 70 and 103°C with an optimal growth temperature of 100°C and a doubling time of only 37 min were isolated from geothermally heated marine sediments at the beach of Porto di Levante, Vulcano, Italy. The organisms are spherical-shaped, 0.8 to 2.5 m in width and exhibit monopolar polytrichous flagellation. They are strictly anaerobic heterotrophs, growing on starch, maltose, peptone and complex organic substrates. Only CO₂ and H₂ could be detected as metabolic products, the latter being inhibitory to growth at high concentrations. Hydrogen inhibition can be prevented by the addition of S^o, whereupon H₂S is formed in addition, most likely as the result of a detoxification reaction. The GC-content of the DNA of isolate Vc 1 is 38 mol%. The new genus is named Pyrococcus, the fireball. Type species and strain is Pyrococcus furiosus Vc 1 (DSM 3638).     

Thermostable β-Glycosidase from Sulfolobus Solfataricus

The Sulfolobus solfataricus β-glycosidase (Sβgly) is a thermostable and thermophilic glycosyl-hydrolase with broad substrate specificity. The enzyme hydrolizes β-D-gluco-, fuco-, and galactosides, and a large number of /Winked glycoside dimers and oligomers, linked β1-3, β1-4, and β1-6, It is able to hydrolize oligosaccharides with up to 5 glucose residues. Furthermore, it is also able to promote transglycosylation reactions. The corresponding gene has been cloned and overexpressed both in yeast and Escherichia coli. Based on sequence and functional data, the Sβgly has been assigned to the so-called BGA family of glycosyl-hydrolases, including β-glycosidases, β-galactosidases and phosho-β-galactosidases from mesophilic and thermophilic organisms of the three domains. The Sβgly has been crystallized and the resolution of its structure is in progress. Because of its special properties, the enzymes has considerable biotechnological potential.     

Issues in the culture of the extremely thermophilic methanogen, Methanothermus fervidus

Basic issues in the culture of the extremely thermophilic archaeon, Methanothermus fervidus, have been investigated, including culture medium formulation, substrate yield and product yield coefficient, growth rate and stoichiometry, and H(2) uptake kinetics. The pH optimum for growth of this organism was estimated at 6.9. Growth medium buffered with PIPES instead of bicarbonate supported both increased growth rate and maximum biomass concentration. Substitution of titanium(III) citrate for the reducing agent sodium sulfide improved culture performance as well. However, independent adjustment of iron and nickel concentrations from 11 to 111 muM, respectively, and carbon dioxide partial pressure from 5 to 20 psia did not impact the culture of M. fervidus significantly. An elemental balance approach was utilized to aid in design of a defined medium to support growth to a target maximum biomass concentration of at least 1.0 g dry wt/L. The growth of this organism was limited by H(2) availability in this reformulated culture medium. The maximum growth rate and biomass concentration achieved in anaerobic vials with the defined medium was 0.16 h(-1) and 0.74 g dry wt/L, respectively. This maximum biomass concentration was a 72% improvement over that obtained with a literature-based defined medium. The Monod parameter, K(s), with H(2) as limiting substrate, was estimated at 1.1 +/- 0.4 psia (55 +/- 20 muM in the broth), based on a H(2) consumption study. Representative values for the substrate yield, Y(X/CO(2) ), and product yield coefficient, Y(CH(4)/) (X), were determined experimentally to be 1.78 +/- 0.04 g dry wt/mol CO(2), and 0.52 +/- 0.01 mol CH(4)/g dry wt, respectively. A bench-scale fermentation system suitable for the culture of extremely thermophilic anaerobes was designed and constructed and proved effective for the culture of M. fervidus. (c) 1993 Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Enhanced thermotolerance by hydrostatic pressure in the deep-sea hyperthermophile Pyrococcus strain ES4

Abstract: The combined effect of hydrostatic pressure and heat shock on thermotolerance was examined in the deep-sea hyperthermophilic archaeon Pyrococcus strain ES4. Pressure equivalent to the depth of isolation (22 MPa) enhanced ES4's survival at super-optimal temperatures (101–108°C) relative to low pressure (3 MPa). Pressure also raised the temperature at which a putative heat-shock protein (98 kDa) accumulated. ES4 grown at 95°C and 3 MPa displayed immediate enhanced thermotolerance to 105°C after being shifted to 22 MPa. Cultures grown at 95°C and 22 MPa and then heat shocked at 105°C and 3 MPa retained enhanced thermotolerance after decompression. These results suggest that this deep-sea hyperthermophile has developed pressure-induced responses that include increased survival to hyperthermal conditions.     

Immobilization of Haloferax mediterranei aldolase by cross-linking in a proteinic matrix: stability and halophilic characteristics

Fructose-1,6-bisphosphate (FBP) aldolase (EC 4.1.2.13) of Haloferax mediterranei was immobilized by treating the cell extract in the presence of 10% BSA, with the cross-linking reagent, 0.5% glutaraldehyde for 15min, with the retention of 60% of its original activity. The immobilized preparation exhibited a shift in the temperature optimum from 55°C to 65°C. The enzyme showed enhanced stability towards inactivation by radiation and storage (0–5°C) on immobilization. Immobilization also made the enzyme less halophilic, reducing its denaturation on prolonged storage in a non-salt medium, as well as exhibiting optimal activity at a lower KCl concentration (0.5m) as compared to the soluble enzyme (1–2m).     

State of water in extremely halophilic bacteria: Heat of dilution ofHalobacterium halobium

Summary Heat of dilution ofHalobacterium halobium was measured when thick pastes of the bacteria, harvested throughout a complete growth cycle, were lysed by mixing with 40 times their volume of water in a microcalorimeter. A series of comparative measurements was made with pastes of bacteria previously disrupted by freezing and thawing but otherwise identical to the pastes of whole bacteria. The frozen-thawed pastes gave endothermic values some 18% greater than those obtained with intact bacteria; the difference was highly significant. Evidence was obtained that the mechanical component of bursting did not contribute to the difference between whole and lysed bacteria. On the other hand, when a correction was applied for heat of mixing of intracellular salts with extracellular NaCl, such as occurs when the bacteria lyse, the difference between whole and disrupted organisms was largely eliminated from exponential phase halobacteria but not from those harvested in stationary phase. It is concluded that there is no evidence, as reflected in heat of dilution, of abnormal solution properties of the cytosol of young halobacteria, which are rich in potassium. On the other hand, and paradoxically, some doubt remains about stationary phase organisms whose cytosol has a much higher Na⁺ content (and Na/K⁺ ratio) than the cytosol of exponential phase bacteria.     

氨氧化古菌及其对氮循环贡献的研究进展

硝化作用先将氨氮氧化为亚硝酸盐氮并进一步氧化为硝酸盐氮,这一过程是氮进行全球生物化学循环的重要环节。随着氨氧化古菌(Ammonia-oxidizing archaea,AOA)基因组序列中氨单加氧酶编码基因(amoA)的发现以及AOA在实验室条件下的成功培养(包括分离纯化和富集培养),基于分子生物学的研究表明AOA在各种环境广泛存在,且多数生境中它的数量远远超过氨氧化细菌(Ammonia-oxidizing bacteria,AOB)。AOA相对于AOB在氮循环中的贡献也引起了多方面的论证和争论。本文就氨氧化古菌的生态分布、系统进化、生境存在丰度及参与硝化作用等进行综述,指出不同生境AOA的活性及其对氮循环的重要性仍需做进一步的研究。     

象山港网箱养殖区沉积物的古菌空间分布

对象山港网箱养殖区及其周边沉积物中古菌群落的空间分布进行研究,应用基于16S rRNA基因的T-RFLP(末端限制性片段多态性分析)技术分析象山港网箱养殖区及其周边不同深度沉积物中古菌的群落结构和多样性,并构建克隆文库进行系统发育学分析。测定沉积物各项理化因子,通过PCA和RDA分析了古菌群落分布及其与环境因子之间的关系。结果表明,泉古菌是港口沉积物中的优势古菌群,占古菌群落的50%以上。网箱养殖区沉积物的古菌群落结构较非养殖区简单,多样性降低。非养殖区古菌群落随深度呈现有规律的变化。营养盐类和pH是造成养殖区域古菌群落结构区别于非养殖区域的主要环境因素。     

嗜盐菌群对酸性金黄G的脱色特性和机理

【目的】为了获得能够在高盐环境下脱色偶氮染料的嗜盐菌群及其降解机理。【方法】采用富集驯化的方法获得一个嗜盐菌群,采用Illumina HiSeq2500测序平台对其群落结构进行测定;采用分光光度法测定了其降解特性;采用GC-MS和红外图谱分析了其降解机理;采用微核实验的方法比较了偶氮染料降解前后的毒性。【结果】该菌群在10%的盐度下,使100mg/L的酸性金黄G在8h内脱色。菌群主要由Zobellella、Rheinheimera、Exiguobacterium和Marinobacterium组成。最适宜的脱色条件是:pH=6,酵母粉为碳源,蛋白胨或硝酸钾作为氮源,盐度为1%–10%。酸性金黄G降解产物的毒性比降解前降低。酸性金黄G主要的降解产物是对氨基二苯胺和二苯胺。此外,该菌群还能使酸性大红GR和直接湖蓝5B等多种偶氮染料脱色,具有较好的脱色广谱性。【结论】获得了快速降解偶氮染料的嗜盐菌群及降解机理,为该嗜盐菌群应用于高盐印染废水的处理提供菌种资源和理论支持。     

厌氧产氢微生物研究进展

微生物是生物制氢的核心。本文论述了通过厌氧代谢途径产氢的微生物种类及高效产氢微生物选育和应用的研究趋势, 其中重点论述了中温和嗜热厌氧产氢微生物的产氢能力、底物利用范围及代谢特性, 简述了嗜热一氧化碳营养型产氢菌的种类及代谢特点。