Archaea Genomes - PYROCUCCUS ABYSSI

Pyrococcus abyssi is a microbe that was isolated from samples taken close to a hot spring situated 3500 meters deep in the south-east Pacific, and for which optimal growth conditions are 103 C and 200 atmospheres pressure.

Pyrococcus abyssi and the related species Pyrococcus furiosus and Pyrococcus horikoshii, whose genomes have been completely sequenced, are presently used as model organisms in different laboratories to study archaeal DNA replication and gene expression and to develop genetic tools for hyperthermophiles. Research teams predict many new functions for both informational and operational proteins. The great majority of Pyrococcus proteins are typical archaeal proteins and their phylogenetic pattern agrees with its position near the root of the archaeal tree. However, proteins probably from bacterial origin, including some from mesophilic bacteria, are also present in the P. abyssi genome.

It is a potential sourse of biocatalysts.

References:

www.genoscope.cns.fr/Pab/