Importance of Archaea

Exam

Archaea

_________ thrive in kimchi.

Nitrogen Fixation

Nitrogen Cycle

• This is the process when a methanogenic archaea capture nitrogen, then convert it to other forms of nitrogen

• Role is to catch available nitrogen in the atmosphere (Methanococcus maripaludis)

Nitrification

Nitrogen Cycle

• In this process a methanogenic archaea like Nitrosopumilus maritimus dominate this step

• This is when ammonia is turned into nitrites or nitrates

Extremozymes

Archaea in Health and Medicine

• Studied for therapeutic implications and development of novel and alternative drugs.

• Enzymes for that we get to extract from an archaea

Psychrophiles

Archaea in Health and Medicine (Extremozymes)

Under Extremozymes that dehydrogenases for biosensors purposes

Halophiles

Archaea in Health and Medicine (Extremozymes)

Under Extremozymes that produce glycerol for pharmaceutical in drug development

Haloarchaea & Sulfolobus

Archaea in Health and Medicine (Extremozymes)

Under Extremozymes that serve as archaeocins - antibiotics used to eradicate xenobiotics

Methanogens

Archaea in Health and Medicine (Extremozymes)

Under Extremozymes that help in the Human Gastrointestinal Tract - aids metabolism (hydrolysis, fermentation, lipogenesis)

Methanomassiliicoccus luminyensis

What archaea?

• catalyzes metabolism of trimethylamine (TMA) - a product of metabolism of foods rich in cholin and lecithin

• lowers TMA to reduce risk of cardiovascular incidents

Pyrococcus woesei & Pyrococcus furiosus

What archaea?

• sources of a thermostable DNA proofreading polymerase

Fermentation Process

Archaea in Food and Industry

_____________________

While primarily dominated by bacteria, some archaea contribute to fermentation under extreme conditions

e.g. Halophilic archaea aid in the production of salty fermented foods (fish)

Thermophilic archaea

Archaea in Food and Industry

Food Processing

________________ provide heat-stable enzymes used in food industries

e.g. Archaeal amylases and proteases are used in brewing and baking.

Amylase

What is an enzyme that breaks down starch?

Proteases

What is an enzyme that breaks down proteins?