The essence of being extremophilic: the role of the unique archaeal membrane lipids.
In extreme environments, mainly Archaea are encountered. The archaeal cytoplasmic membrane contains unique ether lipids that cannot easily be degraded, are temperature- and mechanically resistant, and highly salt tolerant. Moreover, thermophilic and extreme acidophilic Archaea possess membrane-spanning tetraether lipids that form a rigid monolayer membrane which is nearly impermeable to ions and protons. These properties make the archaeal lipid membranes more suitable for life and survival in extreme environments than the ester-type bilayer lipids of Bacteria or Eukarya.
Department of Microbiology, Groningen Biomolecular Sciences and Biotechnology Institute, University of Groningen, Haren, The Netherlands.
J L
JL
van de Vossenberg
A J
AJ
Driessen
W N
WN
Konings
D001105:Archaea / Q000378:metabolism*; D055592:Biophysical Phenomena; D001703:Biophysics; D002463:Cell Membrane Permeability; D004734:Energy Metabolism; D004777:Environment; D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; D008563:Membrane Lipids / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism*; D011312:Pressure; D012965:Sodium Chloride; D013696:Temperature
D008563:Membrane Lipids; D012965:Sodium Chloride