Metagenomics and metaproteomics of deep arctic hydrothermal systems

Project name: Metagenomics and metaproteomics of deep arctic hydrothermal systems

Project coordinator: Ida Helene Steen

Funding: VISTA Project #6501

Principal investigator: Irene Roalkvam (PhD candidate)

Other researchers involved: Tim Urich

Project period:03.2009 - 02.2012

Project's main Objectives:

The main goal of this project is to use cutting-edge metagenomic and metaproteomic technologies on deep arctic hydrothermal systems to characterize the diversity, physiological potential and adaptive features of archaea and bacteria in these habitats. Samples from unusual and pristine environments of the Arctic will be compared to those from cold methane seeps at the Nyegga region. We expect the presence of highly diverse populations of extremophilic archaea and bacteria, defined as organisms that can thrive optimally in habitats that are hostile for human life as elevated temperatures (up to 110°C), high pressure in the deep sea (up to 1000 bar) and extremes of pH (0-12). It is well-known that enzymes derived from extremophiles (extremozymes) are superior to the traditional catalysts because they can perform industrial processes even under harsh conditions, under which conventional proteins are completely denatured.