TM0486 from the hyperthermophilic anaerobe Thermotoga maritima is a thiamin-binding protein involved in response of the cell to oxidative conditions.

The COG database was used for a comparative genome analysis with genomes from anaerobic and aerobic microorganisms with the aim of identifying proteins specific to the anaerobic way of life. A total of 33 COGs were identified, five of which correspond to proteins of unknown function. We focused our study on TM0486 from Thermotoga maritima, which belongs to one of these COGs of unknown function, namely COG0011.