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The essence of being extremophilic: the role of the unique archaeal membrane lipids

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Abstract

In extreme environments, mainly Archaea are encountered. The archaeal cytoplasmic membrane contains unique ether lipids that cannot easily be degraded, are temperature- and mechanically resistant, and highly salt tolerant. Moreover, thermophilic and extreme acidophilic Archaea possess membrane-spanning tetraether lipids that form a rigid monolayer membrane which is nearly impermeable to ions and protons. These properties make the archaeal lipid membranes more suitable for life and survival in extreme environments than the ester-type bilayer lipids of Bacteria or Eukarya.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Microbiology, Groningen Biomolecular Sciences and Biotechnology Institute, University of Groningen, Kerklaan 30, 9751 NN Haren, The Netherlands Tel. +31-50-3632150; Fax +31-50-3632154 e-mail: W.N.Konings@biol.rug.nl, , , , , , NL

    Jack L. C. M. van de Vossenberg, Arnold J. M. Driessen & W. N. Konings

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  1. Jack L. C. M. van de Vossenberg
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  2. Arnold J. M. Driessen
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  3. W. N. Konings
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Received: January 22, 1998 / Accepted: February 16, 1998

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van de Vossenberg, J., Driessen, A. & Konings, W. The essence of being extremophilic: the role of the unique archaeal membrane lipids. Extremophiles 2, 163–170 (1998). https://doi.org/10.1007/s007920050056

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s007920050056

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