The basal phylogenetic position of Nanoarchaeum equitans (Nanoarchaeota)

Abstract

Using sequences of ribosomal RNA from organisms belonging exclusively to the Archaea domain and by means of two methods to remove the phylogenetic noise, we investigate the phylogenetic position of Nanoarchaeum equitans The results obtained are compatible with the hypothesis that N. equitans represents a new phylum within the Archaea domain because the characteristic long branch of N. equitans in phylogenetic rees is conserved even after most of the phylogenetic noise has been removed, thus implying that its rRNA might indeed be singular. However, our analysis is unable to be equally as clear on the phylogenetic position of Methanopyrus kandleri.