Low-temperature extremophiles and their applications

Abstract

Psychrophilic (cold-adapted) organisms and their products have potential applications in a broad range of industrial, agricultural and medical processes. In order for growth to occur in low-temperature environments, all cellular components must adapt to the cold. This fact, in combination with the diversity of Archaea, Bacteria and Eucarya isolated from cold environments, highlights the breadth and type of biological products and processes that might be exploited for biotechnology. Relative to this undisputed potential, psychrophiles and their products are under-utilised in biotechnology; however, recent advances, particularly with cold-active enzymes, herald rapid growth for this burgeoning field.