Genetic fidelity under harsh conditions: analysis of spontaneous mutation in the thermoacidophilic archaeon Sulfolobus acidocaldarius.

ABSTRACT: Microbes whose genomes are encoded by DNA and for which adequate information is available display similar genomic mutation rates (average 0.0034 mutations per chromosome replication, range 0.0025 to 0.0046). However, this value currently is based on only a few well characterized microbes reproducing within a narrow range of environmental conditions. In particular, no genomic mutation rate has been determined either for a microbe whose natural growth conditions may extensively damage DNA or for any member of the archaea, a prokaryotic lineage deeply diverged from both bacteria and eukaryotes. Both of these conditions are met by the extreme thermoacidophile Sulfolobus acidocaldarius. We determined the genomic mutation rate for this species when growing at pH 3.5 and 75 degrees C based on the

SUBMITTER: Grogan DW 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC35445 | biostudies-literature | 2001 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature