IMR Press / FBL / Volume 5 / Issue 3 / DOI: 10.2741/albers

Frontiers in Bioscience-Landmark (FBL) is published by IMR Press from Volume 26 Issue 5 (2021). Previous articles were published by another publisher on a subscription basis, and they are hosted by IMR Press on imrpress.com as a courtesy and upon agreement with Frontiers in Bioscience.

Article
Adaptations of the archaeal cell membrane to heat stress
Show Less
1 Department of Microbiology, Groningen Biomolecular Sciences and Biotechnology Institute, University of Groningen, Kerklaan 30, 9751 NN Haren, The Netherlands
2 Rumen Microbiology, Agresearch Grasslands, Private bag 11008, Palmerston North, New Zealand
Front. Biosci. (Landmark Ed) 2000, 5(3), 813–820; https://doi.org/10.2741/albers
Published: 1 September 2000
Abstract

In extreme environments varying from hot to cold, acidic to alkaline, and highly saline, mainly Archaea are found. Thermophilic and extremely acidophilic Archaea have a membrane that contains membrane spanning tetraether lipids. These tetra-ether membranes have a limited permeability for protons even at the high temperatures of growth and this property makes it possible for thermophilic archaea to maintain a viable proton motive force under the extreme conditions. -Ether lipids cannot be degraded easily and are highly stable which is also a requirement for life under extreme conditions. Psychrophilic and mesophilic Bacteria, and all Archaea adjust the lipid composition of their membranes so that the proton permeability of their membranes remains within a narrow range. This phenomenon is termed 'homeoproton permeability adaptation'. Thermophilic Bacteria are the only prokaryotes that are unable to control the proton permeability of their membranes. These organisms have to rely on the less permeable sodium ions in energy transducing processes in their membrane.

Keywords
Archaea
tetraether lipids
proton permeability
sodium permeability
transport
ABC transport
Review
Share
Back to top