深海极端微生物菌群及代谢产物多样性的研究进展

海洋覆盖了地球表面积的四分之三,它不仅是生命的起源,而且还孕育了各种极端微生物。它们存在于海洋极端环境中,如热液喷口、热泉、咸湖和深海层等,由于生境太过恶劣,一度被认为是生命的禁区。随着人类对深海极端环境微生物研究的不断深入,已经探索到那里具有丰富的菌群资源和具有潜在价值的天然生物活性产物。这些极端微生物能够适应极高温、极低温、高压、高盐、高放射性和极度酸碱性等极端环境,具有特殊的生物多样性、遗传背景和代谢途径,能够产生各种具有特殊功能的酶类及其他活性物质,展现出巨大的研究价值和应用潜力。研究海洋极端微生物对探索生物多样性、新资源开发利用及对地球生物学研究等都具有重要意义。

Diversity of extremophiles and metabolites in the deep-sea

Nowadays, studies are increasingly emerging on the extremophiles inhabiting the extreme environments on earth. Covering 3/4 of the Earth''s surface area, the ocean nurtures a variety of extremophiles found in extreme marine environments such as hydrothermal vents, hot springs, saline lakes and deep sea. These extremophiles can adapt to extreme high temperature, extreme low temperature, high pressure, high salinity, high radioactivity and extreme acidity and alkalinity. Their special biodiversity, together with their genetic background and unique metabolic pathways have evoked vast interests of scientist and industries. Research on extremophiles from variety of submarine geological landforms will be helpful to gain the knowledge on the origin of life, biodiversity, discovery and utilization of new natural resources, and geobiology. On the other hand, application orientated studies on panel of enzymes and variety of other unique active substances with extremophiles, have already been attempted with their potency well revealed. This review covers the latest progress on the studies covering the diversity of extremophiles, the development and utilization of new resources, research methods and techniques, respectively.