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The Molecular Basis for Life in Extreme Environments
Nozomi Ando1,2, Blanca Barquera3, Douglas H Bartlett4
1Department of Chemistry & Chemical Biology, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York 14853, USA.
Annual Review of Biophysics
|February 27, 2021
Summary
Life thrives in extreme environments, but understanding its molecular basis is challenging. This review explores extreme environments, genomics, biomolecular adaptation, and biophysical methods for studying extremophiles.
Area of Science:
- Microbiology
- Biophysics
- Genomics
Background:
- Recent sampling and genomic studies reveal vast microbial diversity in Earth's extreme environments.
- Understanding the molecular basis of life in extreme conditions is challenging due to biomolecular instability.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the physicochemical properties of extreme environments.
- To present progress in extreme environmental genomics.
- To overview biomolecular adaptation to extreme conditions.
Main Methods:
- Review of physicochemical properties of extreme environments.
- Summary of recent advances in extreme environmental genomics.
- Overview of biomolecular adaptation strategies in extremophiles.
- Discussion of instrumentation for probing biophysical properties under extreme conditions.
Main Results:
- Extreme environments harbor diverse life forms with unique molecular adaptations.
- Genomic studies are expanding our knowledge of extremophiles.
- Biophysical methods are crucial for studying biomolecular function under extreme conditions.
Conclusions:
- Studying extremophiles requires specialized biophysical techniques.
- Future research directions in extreme biophysics are highlighted.
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