Skip to main page content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Dot gov

The .gov means it’s official.
Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you’re on a federal government site.

Https

The site is secure.
The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

Access keys NCBI Homepage MyNCBI Homepage Main Content Main Navigation
Review
. 2025 Apr 13;14(4):412.
doi: 10.3390/biology14040412.

The Extremophiles: Adaptation Mechanisms and Biotechnological Applications

Affiliations
Review

The Extremophiles: Adaptation Mechanisms and Biotechnological Applications

Gorji Marzban et al. Biology (Basel). .

Abstract

This review provides an overview of terrestrial extremophiles, highlighting their adaptive strengths and strategies for coping with environmental challenges through the use of specialized proteins. It also explores why their unique lifestyle and ability to adapt to extreme conditions have become a major focus of research, as well as the main benefits and advancements in the study of these organisms in recent decades. This review aims to present an objective summary of the knowledge acquired and its translation into applied science and biotechnological applications.

Keywords: anti-freezing proteins; cryoprotection; eukaryotic and prokaryotic extremophile; extreme biotechnology; extreme pressure; extremozymes.

PubMed Disclaimer

Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no conflicts of interest.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Overview of extremophiles, their environmental niches, stress adaptation mechanisms, and biotechnological applications.

References

    1. Rothschild L.J., Mancinelli R.L. Life in Extreme Environments. Nature. 2001;409:1092–1101. doi: 10.1038/35059215. - DOI - PubMed
    1. Cockell C.S. Vacant Habitats in the Universe. Trends Ecol. Evol. 2011;26:73–80. doi: 10.1016/j.tree.2010.11.004. - DOI - PubMed
    1. Pikuta E.V., Hoover R.B., Tang J. Microbial Extremophiles at the Limits of Life. Crit. Rev. Microbiol. 2007;33:183–209. doi: 10.1080/10408410701451948. - DOI - PubMed
    1. Cavicchioli R., Charlton T., Ertan H., Mohd Omar S., Siddiqui K.S., Williams T.J. Biotechnological Uses of Enzymes from Psychrophiles. Microb. Biotechnol. 2011;4:449–460. doi: 10.1111/j.1751-7915.2011.00258.x. - DOI - PMC - PubMed
    1. Martínez-Espinosa R.M. Microorganisms and Their Metabolic Capabilities in the Context of the Biogeochemical Nitrogen Cycle at Extreme Environments. Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2020;21:4228. doi: 10.3390/ijms21124228. - DOI - PMC - PubMed

LinkOut - more resources