Some genes of microorganisms allow to get accustomed to critical conditions of the environment. Scientists of Max Plank Biological Institute have analyzed microorganism genes which intensively develop in extremely acid medium (pH index is as low as 0.5) at temperatures of up to 63°C.

Having carried out research on the subject, scientists have informed of the existence of the so-called “lifestyle genes”. It was discovered that organisms, occupying the same ecological niche, exchange with each other with the genes which are able to adapt to various severe conditions.

Thermoplasma acidophilum, being now investigated, relates to archaeal, an organism which is frequently met in the environment featured with critical conditions (high temperature or salt concentration, or critical acidity). Thermoplasma was found in glowing coal deposits in 1970. This organism possesses unusual properties, namely, a weak protective shell of the deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA), a growth temperature of up to 63° C, and the ability to adapt to extremely acid medium with a pH index of 0.5 to 4.

To compare with, if pH=0.5, that means that its hydrochloride concentration is 20%. Besides, some archaeal’s DNA structural systems (protein synthesis compounds type) show a great similarity to respective systems the most developed organisms have. Since molecules of the archaeal are more simplified in structure, they are a valuable model system for studying more sophisticated systems (the most developed organisms).

A new research strategy enabled scientists to decode the organism’s genom without use of extensive infrastructure or engagement of a numerous lab staff to carry out complex experiments. German and American scientists were involved in the investigation of thermoplasma’s genes. They found that thermoplasma’s genes are very similar to genes of sulfolobus solfataricus, another inhabitant, being met in acid environment. Sulfolobus solfataricus’ DNA structure is organized in a manner that no gene participates in the microorganism’s life process, but any of the genes is able to adapt to the environment conditions.

Majority of these microorganisms die at a critical acidity and become food for carrion-eating hunters, including thermoplasma. As a result of the accommodation to eating decomposing organisms, thermoplasma is rotted into yeast and only then begins to grow again. Given amazing similarity of thermoplasma’s genes with sulfolobus’ genes, scientists supposed that there were two different gene classes: the first class consisted of “auxiliary” genes effecting metabolic process in the DNA; the second class mainly contained “lifestyle” genes adapted to satisfaction of organism’s need in getting accustomed to severe environment conditions. At the same time, microorganisms, sharing the same ecological niche, are able to exchange with the second class genes with each other.

Complete decoding of thermoplasma acidophilum allows to clarify which proteins, in what quantity and to what degree are synthesized. Through electronic analysis of tomography of alive but deeply frozen thermoplasma it will become possible to visualize and record on a video tape a localization of vital protein formation processes. This, in its turn, will help scientists to carry out a more comprehensive analysis of ingenious correlation and vital activity in any living cell, including human’s.

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