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Reproduction and metabolism at − 10°C of bacteria isolated from Siberian permafrost
Author(s) -
Bakermans Corien,
Tsapin Alexandre I.,
SouzaEgipsy Virginia,
Gilichinsky David A.,
Nealson Kenneth H.
Publication year - 2003
Publication title -
environmental microbiology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.954
H-Index - 188
eISSN - 1462-2920
pISSN - 1462-2912
DOI - 10.1046/j.1462-2920.2003.00419.x
Subject(s) - biology , bacteria , permafrost , doubling time , metabolism , reproduction , energy metabolism , microbiology and biotechnology , isolation (microbiology) , ecology , biochemistry , cell , genetics , endocrinology
Summary We report the isolation and properties of several species of bacteria from Siberian permafrost. Half of the isolates were spore‐forming bacteria unable to grow or metabolize at subzero temperatures. Other Gram‐positive isolates metabolized, but never exhibited any growth at − 10°C. One Gram‐negative isolate metabolized and grew at − 10°C, with a measured doubling time of 39 days. Metabolic studies of several isolates suggested that as temperature decreased below + 4°C, the partitioning of energy changes with much more energy being used for cell maintenance as the temperature decreases. In addition, cells grown at − 10°C exhibited major morphological changes at the ultrastructural level.