Abstract

More than three-quarters of the Earth's surface is occupied by cold ecosystems, including the ocean depths, and polar and alpine regions. These permanently cold environments have been successfully colonized by a class of extremophilic microorganisms that are known as psychrophiles (which literally means cold-loving). The ability to thrive at temperatures that are close to, or below, the freezing point of water requires a vast array of adaptations to maintain the metabolic rates and sustained growth compatible with life in these severe environmental conditions.

Author affiliations

1. Laboratory of Biochemistry, Institute of Chemistry B6, University of Liége, B-4000 Liége-Sart Tilman, Belgium.

Correspondence to: Georges Feller¹ Email: gfeller@ulg.ac.be