Environmental Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
Extremophiles: Sustainable Resource of Natural
Compounds-Extremolytes
Raj Kumar, Dev Dutt Patel, Deen Dayal Bansal, Saurabh Mishra,
Anis Mohammed, Rajesh Arora, Ashok Sharma, Rakesh Kumar Sharma,
and Rajendra Prasad Tripathi
Abstract
Microorganisms that thrive in extreme adverse environmental conditions
are extremophiles. Examples of these conditions are temperature (>45
◦
C; <10
◦
C),
pressure (>500 atmosphere), pH (>8.0; <5.0), oxygen tension, nutrient depletion,
salinity (>1.0 M NaCl), high concentrations of calcitrant, heavy metals, high levels
of radiation exposure etc. The discovery of extremophiles has enabled the biotech-
nology industry to innovate corresponding bioproducts, extremolytes, for people's
benefit. The production of Taq DNA polymerase has revolutionized biotechnology
research in many ways. Many thermostable enzymes including cellulase, lipase,
amylase, and proteases have contributed significantly as industrial bioproducts.
Extremophilic radioresistant bacteria and fungi can be used strategically for the
development of radioprotective drugs to protect against radiation exposure. Further
these extremophiles can be used to develop cryoprotectants. Categorically, the
piezophilic microorganisms in the deep sea are a prominent source of specific
bio-molecules that has ability to stabilize cell membrane blebbing by maintaining
the membrane fluidity. Extremophiles are a sustainable resource for biotechnology
industry, which needs to be explored. This chapter provides a comprehensive view
of the extremophiles and their products with the possible implications in human
interest.
Keywords
Extremophiles
·
Radioresistant
·
Thermophiles
·
Piezophiles
·
Xerophiles
·
Radioprotectors
1 Introduction
The term extremophiles was coined by R DMacelroy in 1974 and organisms includ-
ing microbes, plants and animals surviving in extreme environmental conditions are
Search WWH ::
Custom Search