Extremophiles and their adaptation to hot environments

Abstract

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. Copyright (C) 1999 Federation of European Biochemical Societies.