Biotechnological Applications of Cold-Adapted Organisms

Onbekend

• 16 oktober 2012
• 9783642636639

Samenvatting:

Cold adapted microorganisms, plants and animals are widely distributed in nature since more than 80% of the biosphere show temperatures below soc. Their articles summarize the actual and potential applications of cold-adapted organisms and viruses in several fields of biotechnol­ ogy, such as enzymes, health, food, agriculture and environment.

There is an increasing interest of biotechnologists in the potential of cold-adapted organisms, since they play a major role in the processes of nutrient turnover and primary biomass production in cold ecosystems. Essential advantages of the application of such organisms are the rapid microbial metabolism at low temperatures, the low activation energy for enzymatic substrate hydrolysis and the low thermostability of enzymes from cold-adapted organisms. Benefits can also be deduced from the frost hardiness and frost resistance of cold-adapted plants and animals.