Scientific name Dictyoglomus thermophilum Rank Species | Phylum DictyoglomiPatel 2012 Higher classification Dictyoglomi | |
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Order DictyoglomalesPatel 2012 Family DictyoglomaceaePatel 2012 Genus DictyoglomusSaiki et al. 1985 Similar Bacteria, Thermodesulfobacteria, Gemmatimonadetes, Fibrobacteres, Aquificae | ||
Dictyoglomus is a genus of bacterium, given its own phylum, called the Dictyoglomi. This organism is extremely thermophilic, meaning it thrives at extremely high temperatures. It is chemoorganotrophic, meaning it derives energy by metabolizing organic molecules. This organism is of interest because it elaborates an enzyme, xylanase, which digests xylan, a heteropolymer of the pentose sugar xylose. By pretreating wood pulp with this enzyme, paper manufacturers can achieve comparable levels of whiteness with much less chlorine bleach.
It has been described as Gram-negative, with a triple-layered wall.
References
Dictyoglomus thermophilum Wikipedia(Text) CC BY-SA