T. kodakarensis was isolated from asolfatara near the shore ofKodakara Island,Kagoshima, Japan.[3] The isolate was originally namedPyrococcus kodakarensis KOD1, but reclassified as a species ofThermococcus, based on16S rRNA sequence.[1] Early research withT. kodakarensis was directed mostly at itsthermostable enzymes (like theKOD DNA polymerase), but its relative ease of handling and genetic manipulation facilitated bynatural competence has made it an attractive system for the study of several biological processes.[4][5]
T. kodakarensis cells are irregularcocci 1–2 μm in diameter, often occurring in pairs, and are highly motile by means of lophotrichousarchaella. The cell wall consists of a layer of diether and tetraether lipids, and an outerglycoprotein coat.[1][3]T. kodakarensis is anobligate anaerobe, and aheterotroph, growing rapidly on a variety of organic substrates in the presence of elementalsulfur, producinghydrogen sulfide gas. The generation time is estimated to be 40 minutes under optimum conditions.[3] The requirement for elemental sulfur is relieved whenpyruvate orstarch is used for growth. In the absence of sulfur,hydrogen is produced instead of hydrogen sulfide.[1] Growth is possible at temperature ranging from 60–100 °C, with an optimum at 85 °C.[1] Like other marine organisms, high salt concentrations are required for optimal growth, and cell lysis may occur in dilute solutions.
In 2005, the genome ofT. kodakarensis KOD1 was fully sequenced. The genome consists of a single 2,088,737 base pair circular chromosome, encoding a predicted 2306 proteins.[6]
Hwa KY, Subramani B, Shen ST, Lee YM (September 2014). "An intermolecular disulfide bond is required for thermostability and thermoactivity of β-glycosidase from Thermococcus kodakarensis KOD1".Applied Microbiology and Biotechnology.98 (18):7825–36.doi:10.1007/s00253-014-5731-6.PMID24728717.S2CID9812474.
Kishimoto A, Kita A, Ishibashi T, Tomita H, Yokooji Y, Imanaka T, et al. (September 2014). "Crystal structure of phosphopantothenate synthetase from Thermococcus kodakarensis".Proteins.82 (9):1924–36.doi:10.1002/prot.24546.PMID24638914.S2CID23549563.
