Biotechnological applications of extremophiles, extremozymes and extremolytes

Appl Microbiol Biotechnol. 2015 Oct;99(19):7907-13. doi: 10.1007/s00253-015-6874-9. Epub 2015 Aug 14.

Abstract

In the last decade, attention to extreme environments has increased because of interests to isolate previously unknown extremophilic microorganisms in pure culture and to profile their metabolites. Microorganisms that live in extreme environments produce extremozymes and extremolytes that have the potential to be valuable resources for the development of a bio-based economy through their application to white, red, and grey biotechnologies. Here, we provide an overview of extremophile ecology, and we review the most recent applications of microbial extremophiles and the extremozymes and extremolytes they produce to biotechnology.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Bacteria / chemistry
  • Bacteria / enzymology*
  • Bacteria / genetics
  • Bacterial Proteins / chemistry*
  • Bacterial Proteins / genetics
  • Bacterial Proteins / metabolism
  • Biotechnology
  • Enzyme Stability
  • Enzymes / chemistry*
  • Enzymes / genetics
  • Enzymes / metabolism

Substances

  • Bacterial Proteins
  • Enzymes