Thermococcus litoralis
Domain: Archaea
Kingdom: Euyarchota
Phylum: Euryarchaeota
Class: Thermococci
Order: Thermococcales
Family: Thermococcaceae
Genus: Thermococcus
Species: litoralis
Organisms within the domain Archaea all have very similar characteristics. They are all unicellular prokaryotes without a nervous system, and reproduce asexually through binary fission. Many organisms within this domain live in very unusual, or extreme, climates and are able to survive and thrive there, despite the climate or environment [1]. Thermococcus litoralis fulfill all of these requirements. Thermococcus litoralis are unicellular prokaryotes, they lack a nervous system and also live in a very extreme climate. These organisms can live in temperatures up to 98 degrees Celsius [5], and mainly live in hydrothermal vents below water. Thermococcus litoralis reproduces asexually, and more specifically, these organisms reproduce through binary fission, as do all other organisms within this domain. The domain Archaea contains organisms with many different modes of nutrition. They could be photoautotrophic, photoheterotrophic chemoautotrophic, and chemoheterotrophic. Thermococcus litoralis gain nutrition through a form of glycolysis, which falls directly under the category for Archaea. One interesting fact is that Thermococcus litoralis are not motile, while most other organisms in domain Archaea are motile. Although Thermococcus litoralis is not motile, it shares so many other characteristics with other organisms in the domain Archaea that it must belong under this category.
Thermococcus litoralis are very small, usually about 0.5–3.0 µm wide. These organisms are tiny and circular. They cannot be seen by the naked eye so one must use a microscope to see the organism. They are found deep in the sea in hydrothermal vents or in shallow thermal springs. A hydrothermal vent is a hole in the floor of the ocean with heated water. Thermal springs, or hot springs, are springs with hot water- pretty self-explanatory. The reason the organism lives in warm water is because they are hyperthermophillic [6], meaning they grow and survive best under hot water. Thermococcus litoralis use anaerobic respiration because they live under water. Underneath water there is no Oxygen, so these organisms must live without Oxygen, and thus use anaerobic respiration to survive.
One job of Thermococcus litoralis is to convert animal waste into hydrogenation [6]. Hydrogenation is a reaction that adds Hydrogen to an element [7]. In this case, the organism adds hydrogen to animal waste. In this reaction, there is a two-step fermentation process in which hydrogen is metabolized. Secondly, Thermococcus litoralis breaks proteins into smaller cell fragments [6]. These are both effects that this organism has on the environment. Without this organism, the proteins would remain as a big fragment and animal waste would not be hydrogenated.
Thermococcus Litoralis
Sulfolobus acidocaldarius
Domain: Archaea
Kingdom: Crenarchaeota
Phylum: Crenarchaeota
Class: Thermoprotei
Order: Sulfolobales
Family: Sulfolobaceae
Genus: Sulfolobus
Species: acidocaldarius
The Sulfolobus acidocaldarius have most of, if not all of, the requirements necessary to be in the domain Archaea. First of all, they are unicellular prokaryotes, and do not have a nervous system, just like all of the other organisms within this domain. Immediately, we know that this type of organism could very well be under this category of domains. These organisms live in a very unusual environment; they live in acidic, hot springs at very warm temperatures [8]. They grow best when in temperatures ranging from 75-80 degrees Celsius. Although this temperature seems too hot to live in, these organisms thrive in hot, acidic environments. Most organisms in the domain Archaea grow and are healthiest in very hot and extreme climates, indicating that Sulfolobus acidocaldarius is most likely under this domain. They reproduce asexually and are autotrophic. Many organisms in the domain Archaea are autotrophic as well. After seeing that this organism has all of the characteristics that other organisms in this domain have, it is clear where this organism belongs.
Sulfolobus acidocaldarius have a very unusual shape. While they are circular, they contain lobes, and the shape is not exactly a perfect sphere. As Figure 17 displays, the organism has an overall circular figure, while it is not a perfect circle by any means. These tiny organisms are usually 0.8-1 micrometer, around 0.001 millimeters, and only visible by a microscope.
S. acidocaldarius grow best under hot conditions, so they live in hot soils or springs with temperatures varying from 75-80 degrees Celsius [8]. These springs must be not only warm, but also acidic. The pH level must be under 3 in order for the organism to survive [8]. Interestingly, many of these organisms thrive in the Yellowstone Park due to the hot acidic springs, ideal temperature and pH level for this specific organism. Since the organism can live either in a spring or in soil, they can use both aerobic and anaerobic respiration. However, the organism mainly lives in springs, and therefore, mainly uses anaerobic respiration.
The Sulfolobus acidocaldarius has a very unique ability. Within the environment, the organism Sulfolobus acidocaldarius oxidizes the sulfur for the production of sulfuric acid. This function also helps ensure the existence of sulfur-oxidizing bacteria [8]. Sulfuric acid is a very soluble acid, and considerably one of the most important chemicals in the industrial world [9]. Many fertilizers are even made from sulfuric acid. The production of this important chemical is largely due to Sulfolobus acidocaldarius.
