Molecular adaptations in the thermophilic eubacteria and hyperthermophilic archaea for growth at elevated temperatures and their potential in biotechnology

Abstract

Thermal niches although widespread are not uniform as they vary in pH, salinity, temperature and degree of oxygen. This has allowed the evolution of microorganisms with different tolerences and adaptive traits. Many of these thermophiles are unculturable but the ones that are have revealed a variety of different molecular adaptations that allow them to live at elevated temperatures. Membrane lipids are altered, DNA base content is altered, there are altered metabolic pathwys, while enzymes and proteins have also undergone adaptations to allow them to be stable at elevated temperatures. Many products from such organisms have huge biotechnological potential.