Astrobiological implications of the organic and inorganic cyanide utilization by a novel Antarctic hyperthermophilic Pyrococcus strain.
Extremophiles
; 28(2): 19, 2024 Mar 01.
Article
em En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-38427139
ABSTRACT
Organic and inorganic cyanides are widely distributed in nature, yet not much is known about the ability of microorganisms to use these compounds as a source of nitrogen and/or carbon at high temperatures (>80 °C). Here we studied the capacity of organic and inorganic cyanides to support growth of an hyperthermophilic Pyrococcus strain isolated from Deception Island, Antarctica. This microorganism was capable of growing with aromatic nitriles, aliphatic nitriles, heterocyclic nitriles, amino aromatic nitriles and inorganic cyanides as nitrogen and/or carbon source. This is the first report of an hyperthermophilic microorganism able to incorporate these compounds in its nitrogen and carbon metabolism. Based on enzymatic activity and genomic information, it is possibly that cells of this Pyrococcus strain growing with nitriles or cyanide, might use the carboxylic acid and/or the ammonia generated through the nitrilase enzymatic activity, as a carbon and/or nitrogen source respectively. This work expands the temperature range at which microorganisms can use organic and inorganic cyanides to growth, having important implications to understand microbial metabolisms that can support life on Earth and the possibility to support life elsewhere.
Palavras-chave
Texto completo:
1
Coleções:
01-internacional
Base de dados:
MEDLINE
Assunto principal:
Pyrococcus
/
Cianetos
Idioma:
En
Revista:
Extremophiles
Assunto da revista:
BIOLOGIA
Ano de publicação:
2024
Tipo de documento:
Article
País de afiliação:
Chile