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 manmade biomes.
Chin, J.P., School of Biological Sciences, Medical Biology Centre, Queen's University, Belfast BT9 7BL, United Kingdom; Megaw, J., School of Biological Sciences, Medical Biology Centre, Queen's University, Belfast BT9 7BL, United Kingdom; Magill, C.L., School of Biological Sciences, Medical Biology Centre, Queen's University, Belfast BT9 7BL, United Kingdom; Nowotarski, K., School of Biological Sciences, Medical Biology Centre, Queen's University, Belfast BT9 7BL, United Kingdom; Williams, J.P., School of Biological Sciences, Medical Biology Centre, Queen's University, Belfast BT9 7BL, United Kingdom; Bhaganna, P., School of Biological Sciences, Medical Biology Centre, Queen's University, Belfast BT9 7BL, United Kingdom; Linton, M., Food Microbiology Branch, Agri-Food and Biosciences Institute, Belfast BT9 5PX, Ireland; Patterson, M.F., Food Microbiology Branch, Agri-Food and Biosciences Institute, Belfast BT9 5PX, Ireland; Underwood, G.J.C., Department of Biological Sciences, University of Essex, Colchester CO4 3SQ, United Kingdom; Mswaka, A.Y., School of Biological Sciences, Medical Biology Centre, Queen's University, Belfast BT9 7BL, United Kingdom; Hallsworth, J.E., School of Biological Sciences, Medical Biology Centre, Queen's University, Belfast BT9 7BL, United Kingdom
Recommended Citation:
Chin J.P.,Megaw J.,Magill C.L.,et al. Solutes determine the temperature windows for microbial survival and growth[J]. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America,2010-01-01,107(17)