Membrane Lipid Composition of the Moderately Thermophilic Ammonia-Oxidizing Archaeon “
Candidatus
Nitrosotenuis uzonensis” at Different Growth Temperatures
For
Thaumarchaeota
, the ratio of their glycerol dialkyl glycerol tetraether (GDGT) lipids depends on growth temperature, a premise that forms the basis of the widely applied TEX
86
paleotemperature proxy. A thorough understanding of which GDGTs are produced by which
Thaumarchaeota
and what the effect of temperature is on their GDGT composition is essential for constraining the TEX
86
proxy. “
Ca
. Nitrosotenuis uzonensis” is a moderately thermophilic thaumarchaeote enriched from a thermal spring, setting it apart in its environmental niche from the other marine mesophilic members of its order. Indeed, we found that the GDGT composition of “
Ca
. Nitrosotenuis uzonensis” cultures was distinct from those of other members of its order and was more similar to those of other thermophilic, terrestrial
Thaumarchaeota
. This suggests that while phylogeny has a strong influence on GDGT distribution, the environmental niche that a thaumarchaeote inhabits also shapes its GDGT composition.