Toughest organisms could give clue to early life
A study into the conditions extremophiles thrive in looks for clues of early life on Earth and other planets.
Extremophiles are micro-organisms that inhabit some of the Earth’s most hostile environments. These range from Thermophiles, found in hot springs and volcanic regions at temperatures up to 120°C, to Psychrophiles which inhabit the Poles and permafrost, living in temperatures as low as -20°C. The Centre for Extremophile Research (CER) is an inter-disciplinary team that focuses on the study of Extremophiles.
Professor Michael Danson, Director of CER, explains: "To thrive in such environmental extremes, these organisms require cellular components that are naturally resistant to and functional in conditions once thought incompatible with life. Nearly every chemical reaction within any organism is catalysed by an enzyme. Enzymes are proteins. The precise 3D-shape of these is essential for their functions. Any change usually destroys their activity. The conditions in which extremophiles thrive could also shed light on early life on Earth and potentially other planets."
Comprising staff from Biology & Biochemistry, Chemistry, Pharmacy & Pharmacology, a range of national and international collaborations, CER's focus is to explore the biotechnological potential of extremophilic enzymes (extremozymes), not only because of their robustness, but also as many extremophiles possess enzymes not found elsewhere in nature.
Other types of extremophiles include:
- Halophiles- found in saturated salt conditions such as hyper-saline lakes and seas and man-made salterns
- Acidophiles- which are found in volcanic areas, particularly where there is sulphur
- Alkalophiles- which grow in highly-alkaline lakes
- Piezophiles- found at high pressures, including high temperature thermophiles from the deep-ocean black smokers - a type of hydrothermal vent on the ocean floor.
The CER has developed industrial collaborations. These include projects with TMO Renewables Ltd on thermophilic micro-organisms and their use in second-generation biofuels production and with GeneSys Ltd on enzymes for recombinant DNA technology.
Professor Danson adds: “Environments considered extreme on Earth tend to be normal on other planets. The study of extremophiles is highly relevant to searching for life on other planets.”
Research aims
To understand the structural basis of protein stability in extremophiles and to explore the biotechnological potential of enzymes from these organisms.
