[6] It also has a proofreading activity that is able to reduce mutation frequencies to a level 2–4 times lower than most non-proofreading DNA polymerases.
[7] T. litoralis grows near shallow and deep sea hydrothermal vents in extremely hot water.
[2][3] In a laboratory setting, T. litoralis must be supplied with amino acids in order to grow at non-reduced rates.
These amino acids may not be vital for T. litoralis because asparagine and glutamine tend to deaminate at high temperatures found around hydrothermic vents and alanine and glutamate can usually be produced by other hyperthermophilic archaea.
[3] The main carbon source for T. litoralis seems to be maltose, which can be brought into the cell via a maltose-trehalose ABC transporter.