About this Research Topic
Since the introduction of archaea as the third domain of life in the late 1970s demonstrated distinct phylogenetic differences from the dichotomy of prokaryotes and eukaryotes, further differences between archaea, such as their physiology and structure, have further defined the domain. This also includes clear differences in the metabolic pathways of archaea, for example modified versions of the Embden-Meyerhof and Entner-Doudoroff pathways in archaeal glycolysis, and a modified mevalonate pathway. Some of the metabolic pathways observed in archaea are believed to be specific to the domain. Archaea are ubiquitous, and while they can be found in soil, marshlands and the gastrointestinal tract of animals, they can also be found in some of the most diverse and extreme environments, including high salinity, acidic or alkaline, and extremely high and low temperature environments.
Many archaea have not yet been cultivated due to them only being recognised as the third domain for the last forty years. Archaea are invaluable to the environment, being heavily involved in global nutrient cycling, phytobiomes, and symbiotic and syntrophic relationships, however there are still vast gaps in the understanding of the domain. Archaea use a vast range of energy sources, including nitrogen, ammonia, sunlight and sulphur, and demonstrate a plethora of metabolic mechanisms and reactions in order to obtain energy from them. Research into the metabolic pathways of archaea enables understanding as to how they are able to live in such niche habitats. This is incredibly useful for understanding the origins of life on Earth, and also in the search for life beyond Earth. The goal of the Research Topic is to showcase articles that allow better understanding of the metabolic processes of archaea.
Original Research, Methods, and Reviews in the following areas of archaeal metabolism research will be welcome, but are not limited to:
• Novel metabolic pathways of archaea
• Proteins, enzymes and molecules involved in metabolic pathways of archaea
• Regulatory mechanisms of metabolic pathways in archaea
Many archaea have not yet been cultivated due to them only being recognised as the third domain for the last forty years. Archaea are invaluable to the environment, being heavily involved in global nutrient cycling, phytobiomes, and symbiotic and syntrophic relationships, however there are still vast gaps in the understanding of the domain. Archaea use a vast range of energy sources, including nitrogen, ammonia, sunlight and sulphur, and demonstrate a plethora of metabolic mechanisms and reactions in order to obtain energy from them. Research into the metabolic pathways of archaea enables understanding as to how they are able to live in such niche habitats. This is incredibly useful for understanding the origins of life on Earth, and also in the search for life beyond Earth. The goal of the Research Topic is to showcase articles that allow better understanding of the metabolic processes of archaea.
Original Research, Methods, and Reviews in the following areas of archaeal metabolism research will be welcome, but are not limited to:
• Novel metabolic pathways of archaea
• Proteins, enzymes and molecules involved in metabolic pathways of archaea
• Regulatory mechanisms of metabolic pathways in archaea
Keywords: archaea, archaeon, metabolic pathway, metabolism, regulatory mechanism, proteins, enzymes, molecules
Important Note: All contributions to this Research Topic must be within the scope of the section and journal to which they are submitted, as defined in their mission statements. Frontiers reserves the right to guide an out-of-scope manuscript to a more suitable section or journal at any stage of peer review.
