Extreme Environments and Extremophiles: Surviving the Unthinkable
E
X
T
R
E
M
O
P
H
I
L
E
S
:
T
h
e
r
m
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p
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s
&
A
c
i
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o
p
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E
X
T
R
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M
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P
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I
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S
Organisms found living in extreme harsh
environments.
W
o
r
d
o
r
i
g
i
n
a
t
e
d
f
r
o
m
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r
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x
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+
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Definition: Extremophiles are organisms that have been
discovered on earth that survive in environments that
were once thought not to be able to sustain life.
M
o
s
t
m
e
m
b
e
r
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o
f
t
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d
o
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a
i
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A
r
c
h
a
e
.
T
h
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s
e
i
n
c
l
u
d
e
t
h
e
r
m
o
p
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s
,
h
y
p
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r
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e
r
m
o
p
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i
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e
s
,
t
h
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r
m
o
a
c
i
d
o
p
h
i
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s
,
a
l
k
a
l
i
p
h
i
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e
s
,
p
s
y
c
h
r
o
p
h
i
l
e
s
,
h
a
l
o
p
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i
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s
,
b
a
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o
p
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i
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s
,
r
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d
i
a
t
i
o
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i
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a
a
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n
d
o
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i
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s
.
A
d
a
p
t
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i
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s
E
x
t
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m
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y
m
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s
-
s
p
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c
i
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i
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m
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s
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i
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h
l
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t
a
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.
C
a
n
t
o
l
e
r
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e
x
t
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m
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s
o
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,
p
H
,
s
a
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t
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a
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w
o
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d
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a
c
t
i
v
a
t
e
o
t
h
e
r
e
n
z
y
m
e
s
.
Important
in
industries because
of this
property.
E
X
T
R
E
M
E
C
O
N
D
I
T
I
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T
e
m
p
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p
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a
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c
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A
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e
n
R
a
d
i
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t
i
o
n
P
r
e
s
s
u
r
e
Response
to Environmental
factors
T
Y
P
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S
P
s
y
c
h
r
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p
h
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e
s
T
e
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e
i
s
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1
5
t
o
1
5
0
C
A
l
s
o
k
n
o
w
n
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s
c
r
y
o
p
h
i
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s
.
H
a
v
e
a
n
o
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t
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f
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C
o
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a
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(
9
0
%
o
f
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a
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5
0
C
o
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d
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r
)
A
l
s
o
f
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d
i
n
i
c
e
b
e
r
g
s
,
g
l
a
c
i
e
r
s
,
s
n
o
w
f
i
e
l
d
s
e
t
c
Metabolism is quite normal at colder
temperatures.
C
e
l
l
m
e
m
b
r
a
n
e
s
-
h
i
g
h
l
e
v
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s
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f
f
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a
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w
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a
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d
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s
.
P
r
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a
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s
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o
p
r
o
t
e
c
t
t
h
e
c
e
l
l
a
n
d
D
N
A
Some of them
cause
spoilage in refrigerated food
materials.
E
g
:
A
r
t
h
r
o
b
a
c
t
e
r
s
p
p
,
P
s
y
c
h
r
o
b
a
c
t
e
r
s
p
p
,
H
a
l
o
m
o
n
a
s
s
p
p
,
P
s
e
u
d
o
m
o
n
a
s
,
S
p
h
i
n
g
o
m
o
n
a
s
F
I
R
M
I
C
U
T
E
S
G
r
a
m
p
o
s
i
t
i
v
e
,
s
p
o
r
e
f
o
r
m
i
n
g
b
a
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t
e
r
i
a
l
f
a
m
i
l
y
t
h
a
t
c
a
n
s
u
r
v
i
v
e
d
e
s
i
c
c
a
t
i
o
n
a
n
d
c
a
n
s
u
r
v
i
v
e
e
x
t
r
e
m
e
c
o
n
d
i
t
i
o
n
s
.
T
h
i
s
g
r
o
u
p
a
l
s
o
i
s
a
n
e
x
a
m
p
l
e
f
o
r
e
x
t
r
e
m
o
p
h
i
l
i
c
t
r
u
e
b
a
c
t
e
r
i
a
(
e
u
b
a
c
t
e
r
i
a
)
.
Plays an important role in
the
spoilage
of
beer,
wine
and
cider.
E
g
:
H
e
l
i
c
o
b
a
c
t
e
r
i
u
m
s
p
p
,
M
y
c
o
p
l
a
s
m
a
,
C
l
o
s
t
r
i
d
i
u
m
s
p
p
.
M
a
n
y
m
e
m
b
e
r
s
o
f
t
h
e
F
a
m
i
l
y
F
i
r
m
i
c
u
t
e
s
a
r
e
a
l
s
o
t
h
e
r
m
o
p
h
i
l
e
s
.
E
g
:
B
a
c
i
l
l
u
s
s
t
e
a
r
o
t
h
e
r
m
o
p
h
i
l
u
s
R
e
c
e
n
t
l
y
,
a
D
N
A
p
o
l
y
m
e
r
a
s
e
d
e
r
i
v
e
d
f
r
o
m
t
h
e
s
e
b
a
c
t
e
r
i
a
,
B
s
t
p
o
l
y
m
e
r
a
s
e
h
a
s
b
e
c
o
m
e
i
m
p
o
r
t
a
n
t
i
n
b
i
o
t
e
c
h
n
o
l
o
g
y
.
B
s
t
p
o
l
y
m
e
r
a
s
e
-
h
e
l
i
c
a
s
e
l
i
k
e
a
c
t
i
v
i
t
y
(
m
a
k
i
n
g
i
t
a
b
l
e
t
o
u
n
w
i
n
d
D
N
A
s
t
r
a
n
d
s
.
O
p
t
i
m
u
m
f
u
n
c
t
i
o
n
a
l
t
e
m
p
e
r
a
t
u
r
e
i
s
6
0
-
6
5
0
C
a
n
d
g
e
t
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n
a
c
t
i
v
a
t
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d
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s
a
b
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v
e
8
0
0
C
A
t
h
e
r
m
o
p
h
i
l
e
i
s
a
n
o
r
g
a
n
i
s
m
—
a
t
y
p
e
o
f
e
x
t
r
e
m
o
p
h
i
l
e
—
t
h
a
t
t
h
r
i
v
e
s
a
t
r
e
l
a
t
i
v
e
l
y
h
i
g
h
t
e
m
p
e
r
a
t
u
r
e
s
,
b
e
t
w
e
e
n
4
5
a
n
d
1
2
2
°
C
(
1
1
3
a
n
d
2
5
2
°
F
)
.
Many thermophiles
are
archaea. Thermophilic
eubacteria
are
suggested
to
have been
among the
earliest
bacteria.
"Thermophile"
is derived from
the Greek:
(
thermotita
), meaning
heat,
and Greek:
(
philia
),
love.
Thermophiles
are classified into
obligate
and
facultative
thermophiles
:
Obligate
thermophiles (also called extreme thermophiles) require
such high temperatures for
growth,
whereas
facultative thermophiles
(also
called moderate thermophiles)
can
thrive at high
temperatures, but also at lower temperatures (below
50°C).
H
y
pert
h
ermophil
e
s
are
pa
r
t
i
c
ul
arly
ex
t
r
eme
t
h
ermophi
l
es
for
which
the
optimal
temperatures are above
80°C.
Their
membranes
and
proteins are unusually
stable at these
extremely
high
temperatures.
Thus,
many
important
biotechnological processes use
thermophilic enzymes because of their ability to withstand intense
heat.
Many of the hyperthermophiles Archea require
elemental sulfur for
growth.
Some
are
anaerobes
that
use the
sulfur
instead
of oxygen
as
an
electron
acceptor
during cellular
respiration.
Some
are
lithotrophs
that
oxidize sulfur
to
sulfuric acid
as an
energy
source,
thus
requiring
the microorganism
to be adapted to
very low pH
(i.e.,
it is
an
acidophile
as
well
as
thermophile).
These
organisms
are
inhabitants
of hot,
sulfur-rich environments
usually
associated with
volcanism,
such
as
hot
springs,
geysers, and
fumaroles.
T
H
E
R
M
O
P
H
I
L
E
S
Temperature
loving
organisms.
M
o
s
t
m
e
m
b
e
r
s
a
r
e
A
r
c
h
a
e
G
r
o
w
s
i
n
a
t
e
m
p
e
r
a
t
u
r
e
r
a
n
g
e
o
f
5
5
-
1
1
3
0
C
M
o
s
t
l
y
f
o
u
n
d
i
n
g
e
o
t
h
e
r
m
a
l
l
y
h
e
a
t
e
d
r
e
g
i
o
n
s
o
n
e
a
r
t
h
v
i
z
.
,
h
o
t
s
p
r
i
n
g
s
,
h
y
d
r
o
t
h
e
r
m
a
l
v
e
n
t
s
e
t
c
.
As
they need
extreme
temperature, its
very
hard
to
study
them under laboratory
conditions.
hea
t
by
A
l
s
o
that
some
mem
bers
can
pro
du
ce
themselves
(compost
and garbage
landfills).
E
g
:
C
y
a
n
i
d
i
u
m
c
a
l
d
a
r
i
u
m
,
C
h
a
e
t
o
m
i
u
m
t
h
e
r
m
o
p
h
i
l
e
D
e
i
n
o
c
o
c
c
u
s
-
t
h
e
r
m
u
s
i
s
a
s
m
a
l
l
g
r
o
u
p
o
f
e
u
b
a
c
t
e
r
i
a
w
h
i
c
h
c
a
n
t
h
r
i
v
e
e
n
v
i
r
o
n
m
e
n
t
a
l
h
a
z
a
r
d
s
.
Stains
Gram
positive (thick cell wall) but possesses
an
outer membrane, similar
to the Gram
negative cell
wall.
Several thermophilic bacteria comes under
this
group.
I
t
i
s
t
h
e
s
o
u
r
c
e
o
f
h
e
a
t
r
e
s
i
s
t
a
n
t
e
n
z
y
m
e
-
t
a
q
p
o
l
y
m
e
r
a
s
e
,
w
h
i
c
h
i
s
w
e
l
l
u
s
e
d
i
n
P
C
R
.
T
h
e
e
n
z
y
m
e
i
s
i
s
o
l
a
t
e
d
f
r
o
m
T
h
e
r
m
u
s
a
q
u
a
t
i
c
u
s
.
G
r
a
n
d
P
r
i
s
m
a
t
i
c
S
p
r
i
n
g
a
n
d
M
i
d
w
a
y
G
e
y
s
e
r
B
a
s
i
n
-
Y
e
l
l
o
w
s
t
o
n
e
N
a
t
i
o
n
a
l
P
a
r
k
,
U
S
A
S
o
u
r
c
e
:
I
n
t
e
r
n
e
t
C
L
A
S
S
I
F
I
C
A
T
I
O
N
O
F
T
H
E
R
M
O
P
H
I
L
E
S
1
.
O
b
l
i
g
a
t
e
t
h
e
r
m
o
p
h
i
l
e
s
Also known
as
extreme
thermophiles.
T
e
m
p
e
r
a
t
u
r
e
r
a
n
g
e
i
s
8
0
-
1
2
2
0
C
.
Membranes and proteins are unusually stable
at
these extreme
temperatures.
For this reason,
most
biological processes utilize
thermophilic enzymes because
of
their ability
to
withstand intense
heat.
Many
of this
group can
resist
radiation
too.
E
g
:
M
e
t
h
a
n
o
p
y
r
u
s
k
a
n
d
l
e
r
i
,
c
a
n
s
u
r
v
i
v
e
a
n
d
r
e
p
r
o
d
u
c
e
a
t
1
2
2
0
C
,
S
u
l
f
o
l
o
b
u
s
s
p
p
,
P
y
r
o
c
o
c
c
u
s
s
p
p
,
P
y
r
o
d
i
c
t
i
u
m
s
p
p
(
o
p
t
i
m
u
m
o
f
1
1
3
0
C
)
M
o
s
t
o
f
t
h
e
m
e
m
b
e
r
s
r
e
q
u
i
r
e
e
l
e
m
e
n
t
a
l
s
u
l
f
u
r
f
o
r
g
r
o
w
t
h
.
A
n
a
e
r
o
b
i
c
m
e
m
b
e
r
s
u
s
e
s
u
l
f
u
r
a
s
e
l
e
c
t
r
o
n
a
c
c
e
p
t
o
r
instead of oxygen in cellular
respiration.
S
o
m
e
a
r
e
l
i
t
h
o
t
r
o
p
h
s
t
h
a
t
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Courtesy:
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/4/49/Steam_Phase_eru
ption_of_Castle_geyser_with_double_rainbow.jpg
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Requires both high temperature and highly acidic
environment
for optimum
growth.
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s
Rare
group of
organisms
that
can live both
in
higher
temperature
and normal
temperature
are referred
to
as facultative thermophiles.
T
h
e
s
e
o
r
g
a
n
i
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m
s
c
a
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t
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Acidophiles
or
acidophilic organisms
are
those that thrive under
highly
acidic
conditions (usually
at pH 2.0 or
below). These
organisms
can
be
found
in
different
branches
of
the tree
of
life, including Archaea, Bacteria, and also
Eukaryotes.
Archaea
Sulfolobes, an order in the Crenarchaeota branch
of
Archaea
Thermoplasmatales, an order in the Euryarchaeota branch of
Archaea
Acidianus
brierleyi,
A.
infernus
,
facultatively
anaerobic
thermoacidophilic
archaebacteria
Haloarchaeum
acidiphilum
, acidophilic
member
of
the
Halobacteriacaeae
Metallosphaera
sedula
,
thermoacidophilic
Bacteria
Acidobacterium, a phylum
of
Bacteria
Acidithiobacillales, an order
of
Proteobacteria e.g.
A.ferrooxidans,
A.
thiooxidans
Thiobacillus
prosperus,
T.
acidophilus,
T.
organovorus,
T.
cuprinus
Acetobacter
aceti
,
a
bacterium
that
produces
acetic
acid
(vinegar)
from
the
oxidation
of
ethanol.
Alicyclobacillus
, a genus
of
bacteria that
can
contaminate fruit
juices.
]
A
C
I
D
O
P
H
I
L
E
S
Microorganisms
that
lives
in
highly
acidic
environments are called as
acidophiles.
The
pH range is
1-5.
S
o
m
e
m
e
m
b
e
r
s
t
h
a
t
m
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i
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l
f
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r
i
n
t
o
s
u
l
f
u
r
i
c
a
c
i
d
.
Mechanism
of
action is
that
they
have
a
proton
pump machinery
to
eliminate protons
from the
cytoplasm
of the
cell
to
maintain low
pH.
E
g
:
P
y
r
o
d
i
c
t
i
u
m
,
P
i
c
r
o
p
h
i
l
u
s
,
F
e
r
r
o
p
l
a
s
m
a
,
S
u
l
f
o
l
o
b
u
s
Eukaryotes
Mucor
racemosus
Urotricha
Dunaliella
acidophila
Philodina
roseola
Acidophiles
are
acid-loving microbes. Most
natural
environments
on the
earth
are
essentially neutral,
having pH values between
five and
nine.
Acidophiles thrive in the
rare
habitats
having a pH below
five.
Highly acidic environments can
result
naturally from geochemical activities
(such
as
the
production
of
sulfurous gases in hydrothermal vents and some
hot
springs)
and from
the
metabolic activities
of
certain acidophiles
themselves.
Acidophiles
are also found
in the debris left over
from
coal
mining.
Interestingly,
acid-loving extremophiles cannot tolerate great acidity inside
their
cells,
where
it would
destroy such
important molecules as
DNA.
They
survive
by keeping the
acid out.
But the
defensive molecules
that
provide
this
protection,
as
well
as
others that come into
contact with
the environment,
must be
able to operate in extreme
acidity.
Indeed, extremozymes
that
are able to
work
at
a
pH
below one--more acidic
than
even vinegar
or
stomach fluids--have been
isolated from
the
cell wall and underlying cell
membrane of
some
acidophiles.
M
o
s
t
a
c
i
d
o
p
h
i
l
e
o
r
g
a
n
i
s
m
s
h
a
v
e
e
v
o
l
v
e
d
e
x
t
r
e
m
e
l
y
e
f
f
i
c
i
e
n
t
m
e
c
h
a
n
i
s
m
s
t
o
p
u
m
p
p
r
o
t
o
n
s
o
u
t
o
f
t
h
e
i
n
t
r
a
c
e
l
l
u
l
a
r
s
p
a
c
e
i
n
o
r
d
e
r
t
o
k
e
e
p
t
h
e
c
y
t
o
p
l
a
s
m
a
t
o
r
n
e
a
r
n
e
u
t
r
a
l
p
H
.
Therefore, intracellular
proteins do not
need to
develop
acid
stability
through
evolution.
However,
other
acidophiles,
such
as
Acetobacter aceti
,
have an
acidified
cytoplasm which
forces nearly all proteins
in
the
genome to evolve
ACID
stability.
For
this
reason,
Acetobacter aceti
has become
a
valuable resource
for
understanding the
mechanisms by
which proteins can attain acid
stability.
Studies of
proteins adapted
to
low pH have revealed
a
few
general
mechanisms
by which proteins can achieve acid
stability.
prot
e
in
f
r
om
Sulpho
l
ob
u
s
a
c
ido
c
alda
r
ius
),
t
h
ere
is
an
In
m
ost
a
c
i
d
stab
l
e
pr
o
t
e
ins
(such
as
pepsin
a
nd
the
soxF
over
abundance of
acidic
residues which
minimizes low pH destabilization
induced by a buildup of positive
charge.
Extremophiles are organisms that thrive in extreme conditions such as high temperatures, acidity, salinity, and more. They have unique adaptations like extremozymes and can withstand harsh environments where life was once deemed impossible. Types include psychrophiles and Firmicutes, showcasing remarkable abilities to survive and even play important roles in various industries.
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EXTREMOPHILES: Thermophiles & Acidophiles
EXTREMOPHILES Organisms found living in extreme harsh environments. Word originated from Greek- Extremus + Philiawhich means extreme loving Definition: Extremophiles are organisms that have been discovered on earth that survive in environments that were once thought not to be able to sustain life. Most members of this group comes under the domain Archae. These include thermophiles, hyperthermophiles, thermoacidophiles, alkaliphiles, psychrophiles, halophiles, barophiles, radiation resistant bacteria and endoliths.
Adaptations Extremozymes- specialized enzymes that are highly stable. Can tolerate extremes of temperature, pH, salinity that would inactivate other enzymes. Important in industries because of this property.
EXTREME CONDITIONS Temperature pH Salinity Nutritional scarcities Absence of oxygen Radiation Pressure
TYPES Psychrophiles Temperatue range is -15 to 150C Also known as cryophiles. Have an optimum temperature of 150C orlower Isolated from Arctic and Antarctic habitats (90% ofthe ocean is 50C or colder) Also found in ice bergs, glaciers, snowfieldsetc Metabolism is quite normal at colder temperatures. Cell membranes-high levels of fatty acids whichremain fluid at colder temperatures. Proteinaceous antifreeze mechanism to protect thecell and DNA Some of them cause spoilage in refrigerated food materials. Eg: Arthrobacter spp, Psychrobacter spp,Halomonas spp, Pseudomonas, Sphingomonas
FIRMICUTES Gram positive, spore forming bacterial family that can survive desiccation and can survive extreme conditions. This group also is an example for extremophilic true bacteria (eubacteria). Plays an important role in the spoilage of beer, wine and cider. Eg: Helicobacterium spp, Mycoplasma, Clostridium spp.
Many members of the Family Firmicutes are also thermophiles. Eg: Bacillus stearothermophilus Recently, a DNApolymerase derived from these bacteria, Bst polymerase has become important in biotechnology. Bst polymerase- helicase like activity (making it able to unwind DNAstrands. Optimum functional temperature is 60-650C and get inactivated at temperatures above 800C
A thermophile is an organism a type of extremophile that thrives at relatively high temperatures, between 45 and 122 C (113 and 252 F). Many thermophiles are archaea. Thermophilic eubacteria are suggested to have been among the earliest bacteria. "Thermophile" is derived from the Greek: (thermotita), meaning heat, (philia), love. and Greek: Thermophiles are classified into obligate and facultative thermophiles: thermophiles (also called extreme thermophiles) require such high temperatures for growth, Obligate whereas facultative thermophiles (also called moderate thermophiles) can thrive at high temperatures, but also at lower temperatures (below50 C). Hyperthermophiles are particularly extreme thermophiles for which the optimal temperatures are above 80 C. Their membranes and proteins are unusually stable at these extremely high temperatures.
Thus, thermophilic enzymes because of their ability to withstand intenseheat. many important biotechnological processes use Many of the hyperthermophiles Archea require elemental sulfur forgrowth. Some are anaerobes that use the sulfur instead of oxygen as an electron acceptor during cellular respiration. Some are lithotrophs that oxidize sulfur to sulfuric acid as an energy source, thus requiring the microorganism to be adapted to very low pH (i.e., it is an acidophile as well as thermophile). These organisms are inhabitants of hot, sulfur-rich environments usually associated with volcanism, such as hot springs, geysers, and fumaroles.
THERMOPHILES Temperature loving organisms. Most members are Archae Grows in a temperature range of 55-1130C Mostly found in geothermally heated regions on earth viz., hot springs, hydrothermal vents etc. As they need extreme temperature, its very hard to study them under laboratory conditions. Also themselves (compost and garbage landfills). Eg : Cyanidium caldarium, Chaetomium thermophile that some members can produce heat by
Deinococcus-thermus is a small group of eubacteria which can thrive environmental hazards. Stains Gram positive (thick cell wall) but possesses an outer membrane, similar to the Gram negative cell wall. Several thermophilic bacteria comes under this group. It is the source of heat resistant enzyme- taq polymerase, which is well used in PCR. The enzyme is isolated from Thermus aquaticus.
Grand Prismatic Spring and Midway GeyserBasin- Yellowstone National Park, USA Source: Internet
CLASSIFICATION OF THERMOPHILES 1. Obligate thermophiles Also known as extreme thermophiles. Temperature range is 80-1220C. Membranes and proteins are unusually stable at these extreme temperatures. For this reason, most biological processes utilize thermophilic enzymes because of their ability to withstand intense heat. Many of this group can resist radiation too. Eg: Methanopyrus kandleri, can survive and reproduce at 1220C, Sulfolobus spp , Pyrococcus spp, Pyrodictium spp (optimum of 1130C)
Most of the members require elemental sulfur for growth. Anaerobic members use sulfur as electron acceptor instead of oxygen in cellular respiration. Some are lithotrophs that oxidizes sulfur to sulfururic acid as an energy source. Such organisms require a very low pH and hence known as thermoacidophiles. Inhabits regions associated with volcanic eruption viz; hot, sulfur rich, acidic regions such as hot springs, natural geysers, fumaroles etc .
HABITATS OFEXTREMOPHILES Hot spring situated in Atlanta, USA Courtsey: http://www.idahohotsprings.com/destinations/atlanta/atlanta_hot_ springs_01.jpg
Castle Geyser, Yellowstone National Park, USA Courtesy: http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/4/49/Steam_Phase_eru ption_of_Castle_geyser_with_double_rainbow.jpg
Black smoker at a mid-ocean ridge hydrothermal vent
Thermoacidophiles Requires both high temperature and highly acidic environment for optimum growth. Preferred temperature range is 70-800C and have anoptimum pH range of 2-3. All the organisms discovered belongs to the DomainArchae, so far. They can thrive in acidous and sulfur richenvironments. Instead of cell wall, possesses a unique membrane composed of tetraether lipoglycan, which gives the unusual stability for the bacteria. Eg: Thermoplasma acidophilum and T.volcanium
Facultative Thermophiles Rare group of organisms that can live both in higher temperature and normal temperature are referred to as facultative thermophiles. These organisms can live at 200C, and have an optimum of 500C. Maximum temperature that they can survive is 600C. Eg: Bacillus flavothermus
Acidophiles or acidophilic organisms are those that thrive under highly acidic conditions (usually at pH 2.0 or below). These organisms can be found in different branches of the tree of life, includingArchaea, Bacteria, and also Eukaryotes. Archaea Sulfolobes, an order in the Crenarchaeota branch of Archaea Thermoplasmatales, an order in the Euryarchaeota branch of Archaea Acidianus brierleyi, A. infernus, facultatively anaerobic thermoacidophilic archaebacteria Haloarchaeum acidiphilum, acidophilic member of the Halobacteriacaeae Metallosphaera sedula, thermoacidophilic Bacteria Acidobacterium, a phylum of Bacteria Acidithiobacillales, an order of Proteobacteria e.g. A.ferrooxidans, A. thiooxidans Thiobacillus prosperus, T. acidophilus, T. organovorus, T. cuprinus Acetobacter aceti, a bacterium that produces acetic acid (vinegar) from the oxidation of ethanol. Alicyclobacillus, a genus of bacteria that can contaminate fruit juices. ]
ACIDOPHILES Microorganisms that lives in highly acidic environments are called as acidophiles. The pH range is 1-5. Some members that mainly found in the drainage of coal mines are able to oxidize sulfur into sulfuric acid. Mechanism of action is that they have a proton pump machinery to eliminate protons from the cytoplasm of the cell to maintain low pH. Eg: Pyrodictium, Picrophilus, Ferroplasma, Sulfolobus
Eukaryotes Mucor racemosus Urotricha Dunaliella acidophila Philodina roseola Acidophiles are acid-loving microbes. Most natural environments on the earth are essentially neutral, having pH values between five and nine. Acidophiles thrive in the rare habitats having a pH below five. Highly acidic environments can result naturally from geochemical activities (such as the production of sulfurous gases in hydrothermal vents and some hot springs) and from the metabolic activities of certain acidophiles themselves. Acidophiles are also found in the debris left over from coalmining. Interestingly, acid-loving extremophiles cannot tolerate great acidity inside their cells, where it would destroy such important molecules as DNA. They survive by keeping the acid out. But the defensive molecules that provide this protection, as well as others that come into contact with the environment, must be able to operate in extreme acidity. Indeed, extremozymes that are able to work at a pH below one--more acidic than even vinegar or stomach fluids--have been isolated from the cell wall and underlying cell membrane of some acidophiles.
Most mechanisms to pump protons out of the intracellular space in order to keep the cytoplasm at or near neutral pH. acidophile organisms have evolved extremely efficient Therefore, intracellular proteins do not need to develop acid stability through evolution. However, other acidophiles, such as Acetobacter aceti, have an acidified cytoplasm which forces nearly all proteins in the genome to evolveACIDstability. For this reason, Acetobacter aceti has become a valuable resource for understanding the mechanisms by which proteins can attain acid stability. Studies of proteins adapted to low pH have revealed a few general mechanisms by which proteins can achieve acid stability. In soxF most acid stable proteins (such as pepsin and the over protein from Sulpholobus abundance of acidic residues which minimizes low pH destabilization induced by a buildup of positive charge. acidocaldarius), there is an
