Details for uncultured Thermodesulfobacterium sp.

Thermodesulfobacterium is a thermophilic, sulfate-reducing bacterium. Alhtough not a true hyperthermophile because its growth temperature optimum is only 70°C, Thermodesulfobacterium is the most thermophilic of all known sulfate-reducing Bacteria. Thermodesulfobacterium is a strict anaerobe, cannot utilize acetate as an electron donor in its energy metabolism and instead uses compunds like lactate, pyruvate, and ethanol, reducing SO₄^2- to H₂S. An unusual biochemical feature of species of Thermodesulfobacterium is the presence of ether-linked lipids. A very interesting situation exists in Thermodesulfobacterium ether-linked lipids because the glycerol side chains are not phytanyl groups but instead a unique C₁₇ hydrocarbon along with some fatty acids. These lipids are similar to the thermophilic bacterium Ammonifex.