Halophilic Archaea: Life with Desiccation, Radiation and Oligotrophy over Geological Times
Halophilic archaebacteria (Haloarchaea) can survive extreme desiccation, starvation and radiation, sometimes apparently for millions of years. Several of the strategies that are involved appear specific for Haloarchaea (for example, the formation of halomucin, survival in fluid inclusions of halite)...
| Main Authors: | , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2015-07-01
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| Series: | Life |
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| Online Access: | http://www.mdpi.com/2075-1729/5/3/1487 |
| _version_ | 1817994308010115072 |
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| author | Helga Stan-Lotter Sergiu Fendrihan |
| author_facet | Helga Stan-Lotter Sergiu Fendrihan |
| author_sort | Helga Stan-Lotter |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Halophilic archaebacteria (Haloarchaea) can survive extreme desiccation, starvation and radiation, sometimes apparently for millions of years. Several of the strategies that are involved appear specific for Haloarchaea (for example, the formation of halomucin, survival in fluid inclusions of halite), and some are known from other prokaryotes (dwarfing of cells, reduction of ATP). Several newly-discovered haloarchaeal strategies that were inferred to possibly promote long-term survival—halomucin, polyploidy, usage of DNA as a phosphate storage polymer, production of spherical dormant stages—remain to be characterized in detail. More information on potential strategies is desirable, since evidence for the presence of halite on Mars and on several moons in the solar system increased interest in halophiles with respect to the search for extraterrestrial life. This review deals in particular with novel findings and hypotheses on haloarchaeal long-term survival. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-14T01:51:13Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-fd2c17ede3dd40d4b000d27ed4ea6d51 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2075-1729 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-14T01:51:13Z |
| publishDate | 2015-07-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Life |
| spelling | doaj.art-fd2c17ede3dd40d4b000d27ed4ea6d512022-12-22T02:19:22ZengMDPI AGLife2075-17292015-07-01531487149610.3390/life5031487life5031487Halophilic Archaea: Life with Desiccation, Radiation and Oligotrophy over Geological TimesHelga Stan-Lotter0Sergiu Fendrihan1Division of Molecular Biology, University of Salzburg, Hellbrunnerstr. 34, Salzburg 5020, AustriaRomanian Bioresource Centre and Advanced Research, Aleea Istru 2C, blocul A 14 B, scara 8, apartment 113, Bucharest 061912, RomaniaHalophilic archaebacteria (Haloarchaea) can survive extreme desiccation, starvation and radiation, sometimes apparently for millions of years. Several of the strategies that are involved appear specific for Haloarchaea (for example, the formation of halomucin, survival in fluid inclusions of halite), and some are known from other prokaryotes (dwarfing of cells, reduction of ATP). Several newly-discovered haloarchaeal strategies that were inferred to possibly promote long-term survival—halomucin, polyploidy, usage of DNA as a phosphate storage polymer, production of spherical dormant stages—remain to be characterized in detail. More information on potential strategies is desirable, since evidence for the presence of halite on Mars and on several moons in the solar system increased interest in halophiles with respect to the search for extraterrestrial life. This review deals in particular with novel findings and hypotheses on haloarchaeal long-term survival.http://www.mdpi.com/2075-1729/5/3/1487Halococcus species Halococcus salifodinaeHaloarchaealong-term survivalhalomucinpolyploidyancient salt depositextraterrestrial halite |
| spellingShingle | Helga Stan-Lotter Sergiu Fendrihan Halophilic Archaea: Life with Desiccation, Radiation and Oligotrophy over Geological Times Life Halococcus species Halococcus salifodinae Haloarchaea long-term survival halomucin polyploidy ancient salt deposit extraterrestrial halite |
| title | Halophilic Archaea: Life with Desiccation, Radiation and Oligotrophy over Geological Times |
| title_full | Halophilic Archaea: Life with Desiccation, Radiation and Oligotrophy over Geological Times |
| title_fullStr | Halophilic Archaea: Life with Desiccation, Radiation and Oligotrophy over Geological Times |
| title_full_unstemmed | Halophilic Archaea: Life with Desiccation, Radiation and Oligotrophy over Geological Times |
| title_short | Halophilic Archaea: Life with Desiccation, Radiation and Oligotrophy over Geological Times |
| title_sort | halophilic archaea life with desiccation radiation and oligotrophy over geological times |
| topic | Halococcus species Halococcus salifodinae Haloarchaea long-term survival halomucin polyploidy ancient salt deposit extraterrestrial halite |
| url | http://www.mdpi.com/2075-1729/5/3/1487 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT helgastanlotter halophilicarchaealifewithdesiccationradiationandoligotrophyovergeologicaltimes AT sergiufendrihan halophilicarchaealifewithdesiccationradiationandoligotrophyovergeologicaltimes |