The ability of Pyrolobus fumarii archaea to survive extreme heat may be related to the accumulation of charged organic solutes.
“The archaeon Pyrolobus fumarii, one of the most extreme members
of hyperthermophiles known thus far, is able to grow at temperatures up
to 113°C. Over a
decade after the description of this organism our knowledge
about the structures and strategies underlying its remarkable
thermal resistance remains incipient. The accumulation of a
restricted number of charged organic solutes is a common response
to heat stress in hyperthermophilic organisms and accordingly
their role in thermoprotection has been often postulated.” (Gonçalves et al. 2008:383)
