Natranaerobius thermophilus JW/NM-WN-LF

Natranaerobius thermophilus (strain ATCC BAA-1301 / DSM 18059 / JW/NM-WN-LF) is a poly-extremophile (halophilic alkalithermophiles), obligately anaerobic Gram-positive bacterium isolated from sediment of alkaline, hypersaline Lake Fazda located in the Wadi An Natrun, Egypt. The halophilic alkalithermophilic bacteria are a novel group of extremophiles that have been recently recognized. They are adapted to grow at a combination of three extreme environmental conditions, elevated temperature, alkaline pH and elevated NaCl concentration, an evolutionarily interesting combination. It is assumed that haloalkalithermophiles combine adaptive mechanisms of halophiles, alkaliphiles and thermophiles. Natranaerobius thermophilus is able to grow in batch culture between 30 and 57 degrees Celsius, with an optimum at 53 degrees Celsius, and utilizes fructose, cellobiose, ribose, sucrose, trehalose, trimethylamine, pyruvate, casamino acids, acetate, xylose, and peptone as carbon and energy sources. Fumarate, thiosulfate, nitrate, and ferric citrate are utilized as electron acceptors. Cells are rod-shaped, non-motile and non-sporeforming. Phylogenetically, N. thermophilus forms a novel lineage within the class Clostridia, and belongs to the novel family Natranaerobiaceae and novel order, NatranaerobialesElucidation of adaptive mechanisms of multi-extremophilic microorganisms will extend the present understanding of the boundaries under which life can exist and will provide excellent models for the study of adaptive mechanisms to extreme environmental conditions. Availability of a genome sequence for a haloalkalithermophile will also contribute to the field of astrobiology and will help in evaluating some of the presently available hypotheses on the origin of life. In addition, sequencing the genome of a multi-extremophile will also impact biotechnology. Haloalkalithermophiles are potential sources of enzymes uniquely adapted to activity at high salt concentrations, pH and high temperatures. These "extremozymes" have the additional advantage of being more stable to detergents, organic solvents and chaotropic agents than mesophilic enzymes. (HAMAP: NATTJ)