Query: NC_015474:1216971 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_000854:564811 Aeropyrum pernix K1, complete genome
Lineage: Aeropyrum pernix; Aeropyrum; Desulfurococcaceae; Desulfurococcales; Crenarchaeota; Archaea
General Information: This organism, which was the first strictly aerobic hyperthermophilic archaeon sequenced, was isolated from a coastal solfataric (volcanic hydrothermal area that gives off sulfuric gases) thermal vent at Kodakara-Jima Island, Japan in 1993. Aeropyrum pernix is an aerobic hyperthermophile. This organism grows between 70 and 100 degrees C , with optimal growth at 90-95 degrees C, pH 5-9 with a optimum of pH 7.0, and a salinity of 3.5%. This organism is highly motile and cells are often surrounded by pili-like appendages. Doubling time is 200 minutes in optimal growth conditions. It does not require sulfur-containing compounds for growth, and thus does not form hydrogen sulfide during growth.