Archaebacteria - Introduction

Description:

Archaebacteria are a group of most primitive prokaryotes. They are believed to have evolved immediately after the evolution of the first life. Some characteristics of archaebacteria are −

• Absence of peptidoglycan in their wall.

• Cell wall contains proteins and noncellulosic polysaccharides.

• Cell membrane has the presence of a monolayer of branched chain lipids.

• Archaebacteria can live under extremely harsh conditions where other organisms cannot survive like hot sulphur springs, salt marshes etc.

• Archaebacteria can be obligate anaerobes (can live under anaerobic conditions only. They get killed in presence of oxygen e.g. methanogens) and facultative anaerobes (can bear anaerobic conditions comfortably e.g. thermoacidophiles and halophiles).