Biotechnological applications of archaeal extremozymes

Autor do korespondencji: Anna Węgrzyn – Ph.D., e-mail: [email protected] Introduction Archaea are prokaryotic micro-organisms which are able to live only in extreme environments. Based on state-of-the-art those micro-organisms can be divided into three groups: methanogens, thermoacidophiles and halophiles [1]. Those micro-organisms are considered to be pioneer organisms, inhabiting most adverse environments, such as ocean bottoms, hot springs, acid waters or salt lakes [2]. Archaea can survive in conditions similar to those in archaic era, at the dawn on Earth. Those micro-organisms are relatively poorly investigated, among others due to complexity of their culturing and difficult observation. At first archaea were considered evolutionary older than bacteria proper (eubacteria), but in the course of development of molecular techniques in late 1970s, the following division was postulated: archaea, eubacteria and eukaryotes [3]. Until 1970s, when only classical microbiological techniques were used, it was considered that archaea occur exclusively in extreme environments. However, with progress in molecular methodology (i.a. amplifications of genes 16S rnA in the polymerase chain reaction (PCr)) [4], it was discovered that multiple species of archaea are capable of growth and multiplication also in seas, lakes and soils they inhabit [5]. Such research allowed discovery of over 20000 sequences of genes 16S rrnA originating from cells of archaea inhabiting variety of environments [6–8]. Thus, better understanding of genetics, biochemistry and physiology of archaea will help raising new research questions, and better understanding of archaea evolution in such extreme conditions is a great challenge faced by biotechnology. recent research activities focus on investigation of archaea structure and adaptability allowing them to inhabit multiple environments. Their specific properties make them a valuable resource with potential application in new technologies of manufacturing pharmaceutics, cosmetics, dietary supplements, molecular probes, enzymatic preparations, as well as all kinds of chemical compounds [9]. Discovery of extremophilic archaea and their enzymes had great significance to biocatalysis. Enzymes produced by archaea cells allow improvements in multiple sectors of industry. They can help reduce the quantity of waste, energy and material consumption, thus making the technology more environmentally-friendly. Extremozymes are used in the synthesis of up to now unprofitable pharmaceutics, polymer semi-products, pesticides or complex chemical compounds [10]. Purpose of this publication was analysis of literature on application of archaea in various areas of biotechnology. Particular attention was paid to extremozymes, enzymes produced by archaea cells, and their potential use in pharmaceutical, cosmetic, food and chemical industry and environmental biotechnology.