Knowra Thermoplasma Thermoplasma Thermoplasma is a genus of heat-loving, acid-tolerant archaea that lack a rigid cell wall. Its members inhabit hot, acidic environments, including acidic geothermal sites and coal refuse piles.
Archaea : Archaea are single-celled microorganisms distinct from bacteria and eukaryotes, with characteristic molecular and membrane features. Thermoplasma belongs to this domain, despite its bacterial-like shape and lifestyle.
Thermoplasma acidophilum : Thermoplasma acidophilum is a species of wall-less, acidophilic archaeon that grows at elevated temperatures. It is the best-studied species for understanding the genus's unusual envelope and physiology.
Thermoplasma volcanium : Thermoplasma volcanium is a species of acidophilic, thermophilic archaeon isolated from volcanic environments. It shows that the genus includes organisms associated with natural geothermal habitats.
Picrophilus : Picrophilus is a genus of archaea capable of growth at extremely low pH, with a cell envelope distinct from Thermoplasma's. Its exceptional acid tolerance offers a benchmark for comparing Thermoplasma's acid adaptation.
Archaeal membrane : An archaeal membrane is a lipid bilayer or monolayer built from ether-linked isoprenoid chains. Its membrane helps Thermoplasma maintain cellular integrity in hot, acidic surroundings.
Archaeal lipid : Archaeal lipids contain ether-linked isoprenoid chains that differ chemically from the ester-linked fatty acids of bacteria and eukaryotes. These membrane components contribute to stability under Thermoplasma's harsh growth conditions.
Coal refuse pile : A coal refuse pile is an accumulation of discarded rock and low-grade coal left by mining and processing. Some Thermoplasma populations inhabit these hot, acidic, self-heating piles.
Sulfolobus : Sulfolobus is a genus of acidophilic, thermophilic archaea that typically possess a proteinaceous cell surface layer. Both inhabit hot acidic environments, but Sulfolobus has a different cellular envelope and evolutionary lineage.
S-layer : An S-layer is a crystalline protein or glycoprotein layer covering the surface of many prokaryotic cells. Thermoplasma lacks a rigid wall but uses an S-layer as its outer protective covering.
Tetraether lipid : A tetraether lipid is an archaeal membrane molecule whose long chains can span the membrane as a single layer. Thermoplasma membranes include tetraether lipids associated with thermal and acid stability.
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