Molecular adaptations and engineering of extremophiles for synthetic biology and biotechnological applications

TL;DR

This review explores how extremophiles, organisms that survive in extreme environments, can be studied and engineered for use in synthetic biology and sustainable biotechnology.

Contribution

The paper provides a comprehensive overview of extremophile adaptations and recent biotechnological advances in utilizing these organisms.

Findings

Extremophiles have unique adaptations like stable enzymes and efficient DNA repair systems.

CRISPR/Cas and genome-scale modeling are enabling the use of extremophiles in industrial biotechnology.

Extremozymes show high potential for biotechnological applications due to their stability in harsh conditions.

Abstract

Extremophiles are microorganisms that thrive in environments previously thought to be uninhabitable, including extreme temperature, salinity, pH, pressure, and radiation. These organisms, found in Archaea, Bacteria, and Eukarya, exhibit distinct structural, metabolic, and genetic adaptations, such as enhanced enzyme stability, efficient DNA repair mechanisms, and robust stress-response systems that enable survival under extreme conditions. Understanding these adaptation mechanisms is key to engineering similar traits in mesophilic organisms. This review discusses the diversity of extremophiles and presents phylogenetic and comparative genomic insights which may provide insights into the origins and evolution of early life on Earth We highlight recent advances in CRISPR/Cas-based genome editing, genome-scale metabolic modeling (GEM), and synthetic biology that have expanded the use of extremophiles in sustainable industrial biotechnology. The exceptional stability and catalytic efficiency of extremozymes under harsh conditions underscore their potential in various biotechnological applications. Finally, we discuss the ecological significance of extremophiles in climate change mitigation and outline current challenges and future directions in extremophile research.

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