Jove
Visualize
Contact Us
JoVE
x logofacebook logolinkedin logoyoutube logo
ABOUT JoVE
OverviewLeadershipBlogJoVE Help Center
AUTHORS
Publishing ProcessEditorial BoardScope & PoliciesPeer ReviewFAQSubmit
LIBRARIANS
TestimonialsSubscriptionsAccessResourcesLibrary Advisory BoardFAQ
RESEARCH
JoVE JournalMethods CollectionsJoVE Encyclopedia of ExperimentsArchive
EDUCATION
JoVE CoreJoVE BusinessJoVE Science EducationJoVE Lab ManualFaculty Resource CenterFaculty Site
Terms & Conditions of Use
Privacy Policy
Policies

Related Experiment Videos

How can archaea cope with extreme acidity?

G Schäfer1

  • 1Institute of Biochemistry, Medical University of Luebeck, Germany.

Novartis Foundation Symposium
|April 20, 1999
PubMed
Summary

Extremophilic archaea maintain neutral cytosol in acidic environments using specialized membrane lipids and proton exclusion mechanisms. These adaptations are crucial for their survival in harsh, high-temperature conditions.

Related Concept Videos

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by
Same author

[Subacute kidney injury in a 40-year-old female Northern African patient].

Der Internist·2021
Same author

On the influence of groundwater table fluctuations on oil thickness in a well related to an LNAPL contaminated aquifer.

Journal of contaminant hydrology·2019
Same author

The effect of cognitive demand on performance of an executive function task following wild blueberry supplementation in 7 to 10 years old children.

Food & function·2017
Same author

High-speed asynchronous optical sampling based on GHz Yb:KYW oscillators.

Optics express·2017
Same author

Two-colour high-speed asynchronous optical sampling based on offset-stabilized Yb:KYW and Ti:sapphire oscillators.

Optics express·2015
Same author

Using ultrasound elastography to monitor human soft tissue behaviour during prolonged loading: A clinical explorative study.

Journal of tissue viability·2015

Area of Science:

  • Microbiology
  • Biochemistry
  • Extremophile Research

Background:

  • Archaea are extremophilic microbes thriving in acidic and high-temperature environments.
  • They maintain a neutral cytosol despite external pH as low as 1-3.
  • Proton (H+) exclusion is vital for their survival and energy production.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the mechanisms Archaea use to maintain internal pH homeostasis.
  • To explore proton exclusion strategies in acidophilic and hyperthermophilic Crenarchaeota.
  • To understand the role of membrane properties and proton motive force in adaptation.

Main Methods:

  • Analysis of plasma membrane composition, focusing on bipolar tetraether lipids.
  • Investigation of membrane potential and its contribution to pH gradient management.
  • Examination of electron transport chains and proton pumping mechanisms in aerobic Archaea.
  • Proposal of proton exclusion mechanisms for anaerobic sulfur-reducing Archaea.

Main Results:

  • Bipolar tetraether lipids in archaeal membranes reduce ion permeability at high temperatures.
  • A significant pH gradient (up to 4) is maintained, sometimes balanced by membrane potential.
  • Terminal oxidases appear to be the primary proton pumps or gradient generators.
  • Specific mechanisms for proton exclusion in anaerobic sulfur reducers are proposed.

Conclusions:

  • Archaea employ multiple synergistic mechanisms for efficient proton exclusion.
  • Membrane lipid composition and electrochemical gradients are key to acidophily and hyperthermophily.
  • Further research is needed on anaerobic archaeal proton exclusion mechanisms.

Related Experiment Videos