BIOCHEMICAL AND PHYLOGENETIC CHARACTERIZATION OF 2 NOVEL DEEP-SEA THERMOCOCCUS ISOLATES WITH POTENTIALLY BIOTECHNOLOGICAL APPLICATIONS

The partial 16S rDNA gene sequences of two thermophilic archaeal strai ns, TY and TYS, previously isolated from the Guaymas Basin hydrotherma l vent site were determined. Lipid analyses and a comparative analysis performed with 16S rDNA sequences of similar thermophilic species sho wed that the strains isolated from deep-sea vents were not identical t o the other species belonging to the genus Thermococcus. On the basis of the results of the phylogenetic analyses, lipid analyses, and previ ously reported physiological data, we believe that strains TY and TYS are significantly different from the previously described Thermococcus species. According to specific physiological and molecular features, we propose the use of these isolates as potential tools for the develo pment of biotechnological applications in the field of starch processi ng and DNA technology.