Extremophils: What are, characteristics and examples

Extremophile organisms are those that can support extreme conditions in which other organisms would die. Such conditions can be cold with temperatures close to zero, high temperatures up to 121 ° C, very acidic or very alkaline pH, barometric pressures of several tons, lack of oxygen and even radioactivity. Extremophiles are small size and can be:

• Fungus: In the Fungi kingdom they are eukaryotic organisms that include yeasts, molds and mushrooms, characterized by their heterotrophic nutrition. Extremophile fungi are usually xerophilic. Here you can know different types of fungi and here you can learn more about yeasts: what are, types and examples.
• Archaeas: They are a domain of probiotic unicellular organisms that are distinguished by their unique genetic machinery and specialized cell membranes, adapting to living in extreme environments, as well as in more moderate conditions.
• Bacteria: Most extremophile organisms belong to this group. To know more about the types of bacteria that exist do not hesitate to read this article.
• Tardigrades: They are commonly called water bears (late). They are the most resistant animals in the world because they can survive extreme conditions. To be able to exceed them, they pass through a peculiar state known as cryptobiosis, in which their metabolism stops. Until the conditions are good again, the metabolism is reactivated. This allows them to protect against desiccation, because they lose 80% of their weight that is water. This state is also called anabiotic, and catalogs within extremophile organisms. In addition to tolerating desiccation, they can support -273 degrees Celsius up to 151 celsius grooves, equally in cryptobiosis. Here you can know much more about the tarded: what they are, where they live and size.

Extremophiles have very particular qualities and different among themfollowing the variety of extreme habitats that may exist. These are some of the most important features of extremophiles.

Where ends live

Extremophiles can live in unthinkable places for other living beings. Some examples of these places are:

• Deserts: where water is lacking.
• Volcanic or underwater hydrothermal sources: of temperatures higher than that of the surface, and with high levels of minerals that can be sulphide, chlorine, iron, among others.
• In waters or soils with great salinity and hydrothermal fumaroles.
• MINING COMPOST AND SCORIES.
• Very acidic, or very alkaline waters.
• Carbonated soils.
• Arctic Ocean and glaciers: They can also live in very deep oceanic beds, where there are pressures of tons.
• Exterior spaces or underground caves: also located in rocks under the earth’s surface.

Extremophile feeding

Extremophile feed depends on the group to which they belong and, normally, consume what the medium provides them. Being extremophiles in very peculiar places, its food is also varied.

• The algae and some bacteria They can take photosynthesis to feed. If you want to know more about photosynthesis: what is, phases and importance, do not hesitate to read this article that we recommend.
• The bacteria associated with metals They can feed on these.

They can also feed on the decomposition of organic or inorganic compounds, salt, oil or chemical substances that are in the environment.

Other features of extremophiles

These organisms have a much higher enzymatic capacity and with stability in extreme conditions. These enzymes are known as extreme enzymes and have been widely used in biotechnology. Later we will explain how they can be used.

These extremes can be of different types, and each process a different substrate. For example, proteases process proteins.

• Proteases
• Celluases
• Lipasas
• Amilasas
• Chitinase.
• Dehydrogenases.
• Glycosylhydrolesas.

Here are some examples of extremophile organisms and how they can be classified.

• Thermophiles: They survive In very high temperatureshigher than 65 ° C. They feed on inorganic substances and have enzymes to support temperatures.
• Psychophiles: They are handled in very cold aquatic environments, from 5 ° C to -24.4 ° C. They have developed antifreeze enzymes To be able to survive cold temperatures. Cold temperatures are more common than warm on our planet. In these cold areas there are usually high pressures and high saline concentration.
• Alkalophiles: they survive in environments with pH greater than 9. They have to isolate your interior with enzyme help for your cell to work properly.
• Acidophiles: They live in pH close to 5, as organisms that can live at pH 0. These acid environments are normally null Geochemical activity resultsuch as volcanoes.
• Xerophils: they live in places without water, or resist by long periods without it, and exposed to the sun constantly. They are usually fungi, cactus, lichens and algae.
• Metalophils: They live where there are great metal concentrationsincluding heavy metals. Some of the metals are zinc, lead, chrome, nickel, copper, among others. They manage to survive because they reduce metals to a lower bioactivity.
• Halophytes: Tolerate high amounts of salinity. They can withstand low amounts, until 20% salinityand this depends on the organism. They need to accumulate different compounds in their cytoplasm to regulate osmotically.
• Piezófilos or Barophilos: They need high pressures to live, greater than 1 atm. They can be at depths of 5 thousand meters and up to 10 thousand meters, depths associated with seabed.
• Polyextremophils: They survive a great variety of extreme conditionssuch as outer space, cold temperatures, dry and lack of oxygen.

Extremophiles have great value for human development because they can solve multiple problems that we have on earth. The uses of extremophils are multiple, such as:

Industrial applications

By using the extreme enzymes they can Catalize industrial reactions For paper production, sweeteners, detergents, foods such as bread, wine and dairy, textile processing, oil extraction, biofuel productionsun protection and cosmetics. They can also be used for waste processing, Bioremediation and wastewater treatment.

Medical applications

On the other hand, the use of these agencies also has applications in the medical and laboratory field. They can be used for PCR reactions in molecular biology, for disease detection and for him Drug development.

Here you can find more information about molecular biology: what is and its importance.

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