An iron constitution

摘要

Ferroplasma acidiphilum is an extremophilic microbe found in iron- and heavy-metal-rich acidic habitats, such as pyritic acidic mine drainage waters. Most known living organisms, including close relatives of F. acidiphilum that share its habitats, contain just a few conserved iron-metalloproteins. But the metabolic machinery of F. acidiphilum is unique in that its proteome contains a high percentage of iron-metalloproteins.