Thermotoga Maritima Encapsulin

Thermotoga maritima is a hyperthermophilic organism that is a member of the order Thermotogales. First discovered in the sediment of a marine geothermal area near Vulcano, Italy, Thermotoga maritima resides in hot springs as well as hydrothermal vents. The ideal environment for the organism is a water temperature of 80 °C (176 °F), though it is capable of growing in waters of 55–90 °C (131–194 °F). Thermotoga maritima is the only bacterium known to grow at this high a temperature; the only other organisms known to live in environments this extreme are members of the domain Archaea. The hyperthermophilic abilities of T. maritima, along with its deep lineage, suggests that it is potentially a very ancient organism. Encapsulin nanocompartments, or encapsulin protein cages, are spherical bacterial organelles roughly 30 nm in diameter that are involved in various aspects of metabolism, in particular iron sequestration which protects bacteria from oxidative stress.