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Astrobiological implications of the organic and inorganic cyanide utilization by a novel Antarctic hyperthermophilic Pyrococcus strain

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Abstract

Organic and inorganic cyanides are widely distributed in nature, yet not much is known about the ability of microorganisms to use these compounds as a source of nitrogen and/or carbon at high temperatures (>80 °C). Here we studied the capacity of organic and inorganic cyanides to support growth of an hyperthermophilic Pyrococcus strain isolated from Deception Island, Antarctica. This microorganism was capable of growing with aromatic nitriles, aliphatic nitriles, heterocyclic nitriles, amino aromatic nitriles and inorganic cyanides as nitrogen and/or carbon source. This is the first report of an hyperthermophilic microorganism able to incorporate these compounds in its nitrogen and carbon metabolism. Based on enzymatic activity and genomic information, it is possibly that cells of this Pyrococcus strain growing with nitriles or cyanide, might use the carboxylic acid and/or the ammonia generated through the nitrilase enzymatic activity, as a carbon and/or nitrogen source respectively. This work expands the temperature range at which microorganisms can use organic and inorganic cyanides to growth, having important implications to understand microbial metabolisms that can support life on Earth and the possibility to support life elsewhere.

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Unfortunately the genomic information of this strain is protected and this data is unavailble.

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Acknowledgements

We thank “Instituto Antártico Chileno” (INACH) for logistic support and permits during the Antarctic Chilean Expedition 46 (ECA46). We also thank the Spanish Antarctic Station “Gabriel de Castilla” for Antarctic field support. This research was funded by “Instituto Antártico Chileno” (INACH)”, “Fundación Científica y Cultural Biociencia” and by INNOVA-CORFO grant 07CN13PXT-264.

Funding

INNOVA-CORFO, 07CN13PXT-264, Fundación Científica y Cultural Biociencia, Instituto Antartico Chileno.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Fundación Científica y Cultural Biociencia, Santiago, Chile

    Patricio A. Uribe-Redlich, Maximiliano J. Amenabar, Geraldine V. Dennett & Jenny M. Blamey

  2. Facultad de Ciencias Químicas y Farmacéuticas, Universidad de Chile, Santiago, Chile

    Patricio A. Uribe-Redlich

  3. Departamento de Biología, Facultad de Química y Biología, Universidad de Santiago de Chile, Santiago, Chile

    Jenny M. Blamey

Authors
  1. Patricio A. Uribe-Redlich
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  2. Maximiliano J. Amenabar
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  3. Geraldine V. Dennett
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  4. Jenny M. Blamey
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Correspondence to Maximiliano J. Amenabar or Jenny M. Blamey.

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Uribe-Redlich, P.A., Amenabar, M.J., Dennett, G.V. et al. Astrobiological implications of the organic and inorganic cyanide utilization by a novel Antarctic hyperthermophilic Pyrococcus strain. Extremophiles 28, 19 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00792-024-01335-5

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