RNA-Based Investigation of Ammonia-Oxidizing Archaea in Hot Springs of Yunnan Province, China

Using RNA-based techniques and hot spring samples collected from Yunnan Province, China, we show that the amoA gene of aerobic ammonia-oxidizing archaea can be transcribed at temperatures higher than 74 degrees C and up to 94 degrees C, suggesting that archaeal nitrification can potentially occur at near boiling temperatures.