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Cold-adapted enzymes from marine Antarctic microorganisms
Marx, J.-C.; Collins, T.; D'Amico, S.; Feller, G.; Gerday, C. (2007). Cold-adapted enzymes from marine Antarctic microorganisms. Mar. Biotechnol. 9(3): 293-304. dx.doi.org/10.1007/s10126-006-6103-8
In: Marine Biotechnology. Springer-Verlag: New York. ISSN 1436-2228; e-ISSN 1436-2236, more
Peer reviewed article  

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Keywords
    Antarctic
    Environments > Aquatic environment > Marine environment
    Psychrophiles
    Technology > Biotechnology
    Marine/Coastal
Author keywords
    Antarctic; biotechnology; cold adaptation; psychrophiles

Authors  Top 
  • Marx, J.-C.
  • Collins, T.
  • D'Amico, S., more

Abstract
    The Antarctic marine environment is characterized by challenging conditions for the survival of native microorganisms. Indeed, next to the temperature effect represented by the Arrhenius law, the viscosity of the medium, which is also significantly enhanced by low temperatures, contributes to slow down reaction rates. This review analyses the different challenges and focuses on a key element of life at low temperatures: cold-adapted enzymes. The molecular characteristics of these enzymes are discussed as well as the adaptation strategies which can be inferred from the comparison of their properties and three-dimensional structures with those of their mesophilic counterparts. As these enzymes display a high specific activity at low and moderate temperatures associated with a relatively high thermosensitivity, the interest in these properties is discussed with regard to their current and possible applications in biotechnology.

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