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Learning objectives

  • Describe the unique features of deeply branching bacteria
  • Give examples of significant deeply branching bacteria

On a phylogenetic tree (see A Systematic Approach ), the trunk or root of the tree represents a common ancient evolutionary ancestor, often called the last universal common ancestor (LUCA) , and the branches are its evolutionary descendants. Scientists consider the deeply branching bacteria , such as the genus Acetothermus , to be the first of these non-LUCA forms of life produced by evolution some 3.5 billion years ago. When placed on the phylogenetic tree, they stem from the common root of life, deep and close to the LUCA root—hence the name “deeply branching” ( [link] ).

A diagram of a phylogenetic tree. At the base is the label LUCA This branches into two branches. The branch on the left is the bacteria, the branch to the right branches again to form the archaea and Eukarya. The lowest branch of the bacteria is the acetothermus (which is starred). Branches above that include (from bottom to top): aquifex, thermotoga, green filamentous bacteria, bacteroides, cytophaga, planctomyces, gram positives, cyanobacteria, porteiobacteria and spirochetes. Branches of the arcaea from bottom to top: pyrodicticum, thermoproteus, Thermococcus, methanococcus, methanobacterium, methanosarcina, and halophies. Branches of the Eukarya from bottom to top: diplomonads, microsporidia, trichomonads, flagellates, entamoebae, slime molds, ciliates, plants, animals, and fungi.
The star on this phylogenetic tree of life shows the position of the deeply branching bacteria Acetothermus . (credit: modification of work by Eric Gaba)

The deeply branching bacteria may provide clues regarding the structure and function of ancient and now extinct forms of life. We can hypothesize that ancient bacteria, like the deeply branching bacteria that still exist, were thermophiles or hyperthermophiles , meaning that they thrived at very high temperatures. Acetothermus paucivorans , a gram-negative anaerobic bacterium discovered in 1988 in sewage sludge, is a thermophile growing at an optimal temperature of 58 °C. G. Dietrich et al. “ Acetothermus paucivorans , gen. nov., sp. Nov., a Strictly Anaerobic, Thermophilic Bacterium From Sewage Sludge, Fermenting Hexoses to Acetate, CO 2 , and H 2 .” Systematic and Applied Microbiology 10 no. 2 (1988):174–179. Scientists have determined it to be the deepest branching bacterium, or the closest evolutionary relative of the LUCA ( [link] ).

The class Aquificae includes deeply branching bacteria that are adapted to the harshest conditions on our planet, resembling the conditions thought to dominate the earth when life first appeared. Bacteria from the genus Aquifex are hyperthermophiles, living in hot springs at a temperature higher than 90 °C. The species A. pyrophilus thrives near underwater volcanoes and thermal ocean vents, where the temperature of water (under high pressure) can reach 138 °C. Aquifex bacteria use inorganic substances as nutrients. For example, A. pyrophilus can reduce oxygen, and it is able to reduce nitrogen in anaerobic conditions. They also show a remarkable resistance to ultraviolet light and ionizing radiation. Taken together, these observations support the hypothesis that the ancient ancestors of deeply branching bacteria began evolving more than 3 billion years ago, when the earth was hot and lacked an atmosphere, exposing the bacteria to nonionizing and ionizing radiation.

The class Thermotogae is represented mostly by hyperthermophilic, as well as some mesophilic (preferring moderate temperatures), anaerobic gram-negative bacteria whose cells are wrapped in a peculiar sheath-like outer membrane called a toga . The thin layer of peptidoglycan in their cell wall has an unusual structure; it contains diaminopimelic acid and D-lysine. These bacteria are able to use a variety of organic substrates and produce molecular hydrogen, which can be used in industry. The class contains several genera, of which the best known is the genus Thermotoga . One species of this genus, T. maritima , lives near the thermal ocean vents and thrives in temperatures of 90 °C; another species, T. subterranea , lives in underground oil reservoirs.

Finally, the deeply branching bacterium Deinococcus radiodurans belongs to a genus whose name is derived from a Greek word meaning terrible berry . Nicknamed “ Conan the Bacterium ,” D. radiodurans is considered a polyextremophile because of its ability to survive under the many different kinds of extreme conditions—extreme heat, drought, vacuum, acidity, and radiation. It owes its name to its ability to withstand doses of ionizing radiation that kill all other known bacteria; this special ability is attributed to some unique mechanisms of DNA repair.

A micrograph of four round cells forming a square.
Deinococcus radiodurans , or “Conan the Bacterium,” survives in the harshest conditions on earth.

Key concepts and summary

  • Deeply branching bacteria are phylogenetically the most ancient forms of life, being the closest to the last universal common ancestor.
  • Deeply branching bacteria include many species that thrive in extreme environments that are thought to resemble conditions on earth billions of years ago
  • Deeply branching bacteria are important for our understanding of evolution; some of them are used in industry

Fill in the blank

The length of the branches of the evolutionary tree characterizes the evolutionary ________ between organisms.

distance

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The deeply branching bacteria are thought to be the form of life closest to the last universal ________ ________.

common ancestor

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Many of the deeply branching bacteria are aquatic and hyperthermophilic, found near underwater volcanoes and thermal ocean ________.

vents

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The deeply branching bacterium Deinococcus radiodurans is able to survive exposure to high doses of ________.

ionizing radiation

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Short answer

Briefly describe the significance of deeply branching bacteria for basic science and for industry.

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What is thought to account for the unique radiation resistance of D. radiodurans ?

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Source:  OpenStax, Microbiology. OpenStax CNX. Nov 01, 2016 Download for free at http://cnx.org/content/col12087/1.4
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