Survival of the fittest: Overcoming oxidative stress at the extremes of acid, heat and metal

Yukari Maezato, Paul Blum

Research output: Contribution to journalReview articlepeer-review

12 Scopus citations

Abstract

The habitat of metal respiring acidothermophilic lithoautotrophs is perhaps the most oxidizing environment yet identified. Geothermal heat, sulfuric acid and transition metals contribute both individually and synergistically under aerobic conditions to create this niche. Sulfuric acid and metals originating from sulfidic ores catalyze oxidative reactions attacking microbial cell surfaces including lipids, proteins and glycosyl groups. Sulfuric acid also promotes hydrocarbon dehydration contributing to the formation of black "burnt" carbon. Oxidative reactions leading to abstraction of electrons is further impacted by heat through an increase in the proportion of reactant molecules with sufficient energy to react. Collectively these factors and particularly those related to metals must be overcome by thermoacidophilic lithoautotrophs in order for them to survive and proliferate. The necessary mechanisms to achieve this goal are largely unknown however mechanistics insights have been gained through genomic studies. This review focuses on the specific role of metals in this extreme environment with an emphasis on resistance mechanisms in Archaea.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)229-242
Number of pages14
JournalLife
Volume2
Issue number3
DOIs
StatePublished - Aug 23 2012

Keywords

  • Archaea
  • Ecology
  • Metals
  • Natural habitats
  • Oxidative stress

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Ecology, Evolution, Behavior and Systematics
  • General Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology
  • Space and Planetary Science
  • Palaeontology

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