Polysaccharide degradation and synthesis by extremely thermophilic anaerobes.
Extremely thermophilic fermentative anaerobes (growth T(opt) > or = 70 degrees C) have the capacity to use a variety of carbohydrates as carbon and energy sources. As such, a wide variety of glycoside hydrolases and transferases have been identified in these microorganisms. The genomes of three model extreme thermophiles-an archaeon Pyrococcus furiosus (T(opt) = 98 degrees C), and two bacteria, Thermotoga maritima (T(opt) = 80 degrees C) and Caldicellulosiruptor saccharolyticus (T(opt) = 70 degrees C)-encode numerous carbohydrate-active enzymes, many of which have been characterized biochemically in their native or recombinant forms. In addition to their voracious appetite for polysaccharide degradation, polysaccharide production has also been noted for extremely thermophilic fermentative anaerobes; T. maritima generates exopolysaccharides that aid in biofilm formation, a process that appears to be driven by intraspecies and interspecies interactions.
Vanfossen
Amy L
AL
Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC 27695-7905, USA.
Lewis
Derrick L
DL
Nichols
Jason D
JD
Kelly
Robert M
RM
D000693:Anaerobiosis; D019843:Archaeal Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D001426:Bacterial Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D001692:Biological Transport; D050260:Carbohydrate Metabolism; D006026:Glycoside Hydrolases / Q000378:metabolism; D006358:Hot Temperature; D011134:Polysaccharides / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000378:metabolism*; D020027:Pyrococcus furiosus / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism*; D020124:Thermotoga maritima / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism*
D019843:Archaeal Proteins; D001426:Bacterial Proteins; D011134:Polysaccharides; D006026:Glycoside Hydrolases