''Thermococcus profundus'' is a
hyperthermophilic
A hyperthermophile is an organism that thrives in extremely hot environments—from 60 °C (140 °F) upwards. An optimal temperature for the existence of hyperthermophiles is often above 80 °C (176 °F). Hyperthermophiles are often within the doma ...
archaeon
Archaea ( ; singular archaeon ) is a domain of single-celled organisms. These microorganisms lack cell nuclei and are therefore prokaryotes. Archaea were initially classified as bacteria, receiving the name archaebacteria (in the Archaebact ...
isolated from a deep-sea
hydrothermal vent
A hydrothermal vent is a fissure on the seabed from which geothermally heated water discharges. They are commonly found near volcanically active places, areas where tectonic plates are moving apart at mid-ocean ridges, ocean basins, and hotspot ...
. It is
coccoid-shaped with 1–2
μm
The micrometre ( international spelling as used by the International Bureau of Weights and Measures; SI symbol: μm) or micrometer (American spelling), also commonly known as a micron, is a unit of length in the International System of Unit ...
in diameter, designated as strain DT5432.
One
amylase
An amylase () is an enzyme that catalyses the hydrolysis of starch (Latin ') into sugars. Amylase is present in the saliva of humans and some other mammals, where it begins the chemical process of digestion. Foods that contain large amounts of ...
isolated from ''T. profundus'' strain DT5432 was found to function at an optimal temperature of 80 °C. The scientists who extracted it speculate that it may have applications in the starch industry because of its heat tolerance and lack of any need for metal ions.
References
Further reading
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External links
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LPSNType strain of ''Thermococcus profundus'' at Bac''Dive'' - the Bacterial Diversity Metadatabase
Euryarchaeota
Archaea described in 1995
{{Euryarchaeota-stub