title: Solutes determine the temperature windows for microbial survival and growth.
abstract: Microbial cells, and ultimately the Earth's biosphere, function within a narrow range of physicochemical conditions. For the majority of ecosystems, productivity is cold-limited, and it is microbes that represent the failure point. This study was carried out to determine if naturally occurring solutes can extend the temperature windows for activity of microorganisms. We found that substances known to disorder cellular macromolecules (chaotropes) did expand microbial growth windows, fungi preferentially accumulated chaotropic metabolites at low temperature, and chemical activities of solutes determined microbial survival at extremes of temperature as well as pressure. This information can enhance the precision of models used to predict if extraterrestrial and other hostile environments are able to support life; furthermore, chaotropes may be used to extend the growth windows for key microbes, such as saprotrophs, in cold ecosystems and man-made biomes.
authors.affiliation: School of Biological Sciences, Medical Biology Centre, Queen's University, Belfast BT9 7BL, Northern Ireland.
authors.forename: Jason P
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Chin
authors.forename: Julianne
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Megaw
authors.forename: Caroline L
authors.initials: CL
authors.lastname: Magill
authors.forename: Krzysztof
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Nowotarski
authors.forename: Jim P
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Williams
authors.forename: Prashanth
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Bhaganna
authors.forename: Mark
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Linton
authors.forename: Margaret F
authors.initials: MF
authors.lastname: Patterson
authors.forename: Graham J C
authors.initials: GJ
authors.lastname: Underwood
authors.forename: Allen Y
authors.initials: AY
authors.lastname: Mswaka
authors.forename: John E
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Hallsworth
mesh_terms: D000220:Adaptation, Biological / Q000502:physiology*; D003451:Cryoprotective Agents / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology; D017753:Ecosystem; D005658:Fungi / Q000187:drug effects / Q000254:growth & development*; D005947:Glucose / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology; D005990:Glycerol / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology; D008954:Models, Biological; D011312:Pressure; D013395:Sucrose / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology; D013696:Temperature
chemical_list: D003451:Cryoprotective Agents; D013395:Sucrose; D005947:Glucose; D005990:Glycerol
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