Query: NC_015474:644552 Pyrococcus sp. NA2 chromosome, complete genome
Lineage: Pyrococcus; Pyrococcus; Thermococcaceae; Thermococcales; Euryarchaeota; Archaea
General Information: Pyrococcus has similar characteristics of other thermoautotrophican archaea such as Archaeoglobus, and Methanococcus in the respect that they are all thermophilic and anaerobic. Pyrococcus differs, however, because its optimal growth temperature is nearly 100 °C and dwells at a greater sea depth than the other archaea. Studying Pyrococcus helps give insight to possible mechanisms used to endure extreme environmental conditions like high temperatures and high pressure.
Subject: NC_008789:942309 Halorhodospira halophila SL1, complete genome
Lineage: Halorhodospira halophila; Halorhodospira; Ectothiorhodospiraceae; Chromatiales; Proteobacteria; Bacteria
General Information: Halorhodospira halophila SL1 was isolated from salt lake mud. Sulfur-oxidizing extreme halophile. This organism, formerly Ectothiorhodospira halophila is alkaliphilic, phototrophic, halophile. This is one of the most halophilic eubacteria known, and produces organic solutes such as glycine betaine, ectoine, and trehalose to balance the osmotic pressure. This organism oxidizes sulfide to sulfur, which is deposited outside the cell and further oxidized to sulfate. This organism also produces a blue light sensor called photoactive yellow protein which is involved in signal transduction.