Antioxidative Activity of Methanolic and Water Extracts from the Hyperthermophilic Archaeon Aeropyrum pernix K1.

The hyperthermophilic archaeon Aeropyrum pernix has adapted to optimal growth under high temperatures in saline environments and under oxidizing conditions. In the present study, we focused on the antioxidative activity of proteins from A. pernix K1. Following high temperature methanol and water extractions of the protein from the biomass of A. pernix K1, the total sulphydryl groups and radical scavenging activities were investigated. The total protein in the methanolic extract was 36% lower and showed 10% fewer sulphydryl groups than that from the water extract. However, the radical scavenging activity of the water extract was four-fold greater than for the methanolic extract. The proteins of both of these extracts were separated by two-dimensional electrophoresis, and selected proteins were identified using mass spectrometry. The majority of these identified proteins were intracellular proteins, such as those involved in oxidative stress responses and osmotic stress responses, and proteins with hydrolase and dehydrogenase activities. These proteins are also common to most organisms, and included putative uncharacterized proteins.