Table 1

Completely sequenced archaeal genomes

Species
Abbreviation
Optimal growth temperature (°C)
Lifestyle and other features
Number of proteins*
Number (%) proteins in COGs
Date of genome release
Reference

Euryarchaeota







Archaeoglobus fulgidus DSM
Afu
83
Anaerobic, sulfate-reducing chemolito- or chemorgano-autotroph, motile
2,420
1,953 (81%)
1997
[124]
Halobacterium sp. NRC-1
Hsp
37
Aerobic chemorganotroph, obligate halophile, with a cell envelope; motile; two extrachromosomal elements
2,622
1,809 (69%)
2000
[125]
Methanocaldococcus jannaschii
Mja
85
Chemolitoautotroph, strict anaerobe, methanogen, motile; two extrachromosomal elements
1,758
1,448 (82%)
1996
[27]
Methanopyrus kandleri AV19
Mka
110
Chemolitoautotroph, strict anaerobe, methanogen, with high cellular salt concentration
1,691
1,253 (74%)
2002
[45]
Methanosarcina acetivorans C2A
Mac
37
Chemolitoautotroph, anaerobe possibly capable of aerobic growth; nitrogen-fixing, versatile methanogen; motile, and able to form multicellular structures
4,540
3,142 (69%)
2002
[55]
Methanosarcina mazei Goe1
Mma
37
As for Mac
3,371
N/A
2002
[54]
Methanothermobacter thermoautotrophicus delta H
Mth
65
Chemolitoautotroph, strict anaerobe, nitrogen-fixing, methanogen
1,873
1,500 (80%)
1997
[126]
Pyrococcus horikoshii
Pho
96
Anaerobic heterotroph, sulfur enhances growth; motile
1,801
1,425 (79%)
1998
[127]
Pyrococcus abyssi
Pab
96
As for Pho
1,769
1,506 (85%)
2001
[128]
Pyrococcus furiosus DSM 3638
Pfu
96
As for Pho
2,065
N/A
2001
[129]
Thermoplasma acidophilum
Tac
59
Facultative anaerobe, chemorganotroph, thermoacidophilic, anaerobically able to metabolize sulfur; motile, with a plasma membrane
1,482
1,261 (85%)
2000
[96]
Thermoplasma volcanium
Tvo
60
As for Tac
1,499
1,277 (85%)
2000
[130]








Crenarchaeota







Pyrobaculum aerophilum
Pae
100
Facultative nitrate-reducing anaerobe
1,840
1,236 (67%)
2002
[131]
Aeropyrum pernix
Ape
90
Aerobic chemorganotroph; sulfur enhances growth
2,605
1,529 (59%)
1999
[132]
Sulfolobus solfataricus
Sso
80
Aerobe metabolizing sulfur; thermo-acidophilic chemorganotroph; motile
2,977
2,207 (74%)
2001
[97]
Sulfolobus tokodaii
Sto
80
As for Sso
2,826
N/A
2001
[133]

*According to the original genome annotation

Makarova and Koonin Genome Biology 2003 4:115   doi:10.1186/gb-2003-4-8-115