N atronococcus

Abstract

Na.tro.no.coc'cus . N.L. n. natron (arbitrarily derived from the Arabic n. natrun or natron ) soda, sodium carbonate; N.L. pref. natrono‐ , pertaining to soda; N.L. masc. n. coccus , from Gr. masc. n. kokkos , a berry, coccus; N.L. masc. n. Natronococcus , soda berry. Euryarchaeota / Halobacteria / Natrialbales / Natrialbaceae / Natronococcus The genus Natronococcus (family Natrialbaceae , order Natrialbales , class Halobacteria ) contains four species of haloalkaliphilic, nonmotile cocci, growing in irregular clusters, pairs, or single. The cells do not lyse in distilled water. Colonies are red to pale brown due to the presence of bacterioruberin carotenoids. The organisms are obligately aerobic chemoorganotrophs; growth is stimulated by some sugars. The major polar lipids are C 20 C 20 and C 20 C 25 glycerol diether derivatives of phosphatidylglycerol and phosphatidylglycerol phosphate methyl ester. Glycolipids are absent. The type strains of the four Natronococcus species were isolated from soda lakes or fermented seafood. DNA G + C content (mol%) : 61.1–64.9. Type species : Natronococcus occultus Tindall, Ross and Grant 1984b, 355 VP (Effective publication: Tindall, Ross and Grant 1984a, 55).