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Extremophiles and their adaptation to hot environments
Author(s) -
Stetter Karl O
Publication year - 1999
Publication title -
febs letters
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.593
H-Index - 257
eISSN - 1873-3468
pISSN - 0014-5793
DOI - 10.1016/s0014-5793(99)00663-8
Subject(s) - hyperthermophile , archaea , adaptation (eye) , nucleic acid , bacteria , extremophile , biology , thermophile , function (biology) , chemistry , biochemistry , microbiology and biotechnology , genetics , neuroscience
Water‐containing terrestrial, subterranean and submarine high temperature areas harbor a variety of hyperthermophilic bacteria and archaea which are able to grow optimally above 80°C. Hyperthermophiles are adapted to hot environments by their physiological and nutritional requirements. As a consequence, cell components like proteins, nucleic acids and membranes have to be stable and even function best at temperatures around 100°C. The chemolithoautotrophic archaeon Pyrolobus fumarii is able to grow at 113°C and, therefore, represents the upper temperature border of life. For the first time, (vegetative) cultures of Pyrolobus and Pyrodictium are able to survive autoclaving.