GH
Glycoside hydrolase
LPS
Lipopolysaccharide
Mrp
Multiple resistance and pH
MS
Mass spectrometry
NMDA
N-methyl-D-aspartate
NMR
Nuclear magnetic resonance
OXPHOS Oxidative phosphorylation
PCM
L-isoaspartyl protein carboxyl methyltransferase
PG
Peptidoglycan
P i
Inorganic phosphate
pI
Isoelectric points
Pmf
Proton motive force
SCWP
Secondary cell wall polymers
S-layer
Cell surface layer
SLH
S-layer homology
SlpA
Surface-layer protein A
Smf
Sodium motive force
TCDB
Transporter classification database
TMH4
Trans-membrane helix-4
TMH5
Trans-membrane helix-5
TUA
Teichuronic acid
TUP
Teichuronopeptide
UT-A
Urea transporter A
1 Introduction
Organisms interact with their environment to ensure survival. They acquire
resources such as nutrients from their environment and discharge waste and products
out of their bodies. These fascinating complex processes are accomplished at
astonishingly high rate of fidelity through numerous metabolic activities which
give the identity of life. To sustain life, organisms should adjust to their environment. Thus, organisms evolve various mechanisms including structural and physiological features that allow them not only to survive but also thrive in their respective
habitats. This process of evolving structural and functional mechanisms to thrive in
an environment is known as adaptation.
The incredible evolution of organisms in response to environmental conditions
gave rise to an impressive diversity of adaptive solutions to a range of habitats. This
stretches life almost to every corner of the planet. Even places that once have been
considered too hostile for life are found to be inhabited by various life forms. One of
these “unusual” places is the different natural and man-made alkaline environments
which are found inhabited by diverse groups of organisms known as alkaliphiles.
Soda lakes, which are stable alkaline environments, are important habitats for
Challenges and Adaptations of Life in Alkaline Habitats
87
Glycoside hydrolase
LPS
Lipopolysaccharide
Mrp
Multiple resistance and pH
MS
Mass spectrometry
NMDA
N-methyl-D-aspartate
NMR
Nuclear magnetic resonance
OXPHOS Oxidative phosphorylation
PCM
L-isoaspartyl protein carboxyl methyltransferase
PG
Peptidoglycan
P i
Inorganic phosphate
pI
Isoelectric points
Pmf
Proton motive force
SCWP
Secondary cell wall polymers
S-layer
Cell surface layer
SLH
S-layer homology
SlpA
Surface-layer protein A
Smf
Sodium motive force
TCDB
Transporter classification database
TMH4
Trans-membrane helix-4
TMH5
Trans-membrane helix-5
TUA
Teichuronic acid
TUP
Teichuronopeptide
UT-A
Urea transporter A
1 Introduction
Organisms interact with their environment to ensure survival. They acquire
resources such as nutrients from their environment and discharge waste and products
out of their bodies. These fascinating complex processes are accomplished at
astonishingly high rate of fidelity through numerous metabolic activities which
give the identity of life. To sustain life, organisms should adjust to their environment. Thus, organisms evolve various mechanisms including structural and physiological features that allow them not only to survive but also thrive in their respective
habitats. This process of evolving structural and functional mechanisms to thrive in
an environment is known as adaptation.
The incredible evolution of organisms in response to environmental conditions
gave rise to an impressive diversity of adaptive solutions to a range of habitats. This
stretches life almost to every corner of the planet. Even places that once have been
considered too hostile for life are found to be inhabited by various life forms. One of
these “unusual” places is the different natural and man-made alkaline environments
which are found inhabited by diverse groups of organisms known as alkaliphiles.
Soda lakes, which are stable alkaline environments, are important habitats for
Challenges and Adaptations of Life in Alkaline Habitats
87