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PMID: 691075 Published · ppublish English Comparative Study Journal Article

Archaebacteria.

Journal of molecular evolution ·Vol. 11 ·No. 3 ·1978-08-02 ·Pages 245-51

Woese CR, Magrum LJ, Fox GE

Abstract

Experimental work published elsewhere has shown that the Archaebacteria encompass several distinct subgroups including methanogens, extreme halophiles, and various thermoacidophiles. The common characteristics of Archaebacteria known to date are these: (1) the presence of characteristic tRNAs and ribosomal RNAs; (2) the absence of peptidoglycan cell walls, with in many cases, replacement by a largely proteinaceous coat; (3) the occurrence of ether linked lipids built from phytanyl chains and (4) in all cases known so far, their occurrence only in unusual habitats. These organisms contain a number of 'eucaryotic features' in addition to their many bacterial attributes. This is interpreted as a strong indication that the Archaebacteria, while not actually eucaryotic, do indeed represents a third separate, line of descent as originally proposed.

MeSH Terms
Bacteria/classification,genetics Cell Wall/analysis Eukaryotic Cells/physiology Euryarchaeota/analysis,classification,genetics Lipids/analysis Phylogeny Protein Biosynthesis
Chemicals
Lipids
Authors & Affiliations
3 authors, click to expand affiliations / ORCID
Woese C R
Magrum L J
Fox G E
References (37)
37 references, click to expand
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Article Info
Journal
Journal of molecular evolution
Abbr.
J Mol Evol
ISSN
0022-2844
DOI
10.1007/BF01734485
Published
1978-08-02
Pages
245-51
Language
English
Region
Germany
NLM ID
0360051
Subset
IM
External Links
PubMed source DOI: 10.1007/BF01734485 View journal details
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