Archaea thermoprotectants

Other organic solutes found in thermophilic archaea likely play roles as thermoprotectants, although there have been few in vitro studies in which the effects of these solutes on protein stability have been tested. Among the putative thermoprotectants in hyperthermophilic archaea is di-myo-inositol-1,1 -phosphate (DIP) (see figure 6.2 for the structure of this... 

DIP was initially identified in Pyrococcus woesei and Methanococcus igneusP Later, this solute was detected in other hyperthermophilic archaea, namely in Pyrodictium occultum, and in Pyrococcus and Thermococcus spp. In several species of the Thermococcales large increases in the levels of DIP are observed at growth temperatures above the optimum, leading to the view that this solute has a thermoprotective role in these oiganisms. ... 

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