Cold-adapted enzymes from marine Antarctic microorganisms
Marx, J.-C.; Collins, T.; D'Amico, S.; Feller, G.; Gerday, C. (2007). Cold-adapted enzymes from marine Antarctic microorganisms. Mar. Biotechnol. 9(3): 293-304. dx.doi.org/10.1007/s10126-006-6103-8
In: Marine Biotechnology. Springer-Verlag: New York. ISSN 1436-2228; e-ISSN 1436-2236, more
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| Keywords |
Antarctic
Environments > Aquatic environment > Marine environment
Psychrophiles
Technology > Biotechnology
Marine/Coastal |
| Author keywords |
Antarctic; biotechnology; cold adaptation; psychrophiles |
| Authors | | Top |
- Marx, J.-C.
- Collins, T.
- D'Amico, S., more
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| Abstract |
The Antarctic marine environment is characterized by challenging conditions for the survival of native microorganisms. Indeed, next to the temperature effect represented by the Arrhenius law, the viscosity of the medium, which is also significantly enhanced by low temperatures, contributes to slow down reaction rates. This review analyses the different challenges and focuses on a key element of life at low temperatures: cold-adapted enzymes. The molecular characteristics of these enzymes are discussed as well as the adaptation strategies which can be inferred from the comparison of their properties and three-dimensional structures with those of their mesophilic counterparts. As these enzymes display a high specific activity at low and moderate temperatures associated with a relatively high thermosensitivity, the interest in these properties is discussed with regard to their current and possible applications in biotechnology. |
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