How Sulfolobus responds to enviromental stress

Bacteria and Archaea occupy a considerable diversity of niches that vary with respect to the physical conditions. Survival and colonisation requires the capacity to sense, and adapt to environmental change. In this chapter we consider some basic mechanisms adopted by prokaryotes to answer to high temperature, oxidative stress and toxic substances. We lay particular attention on the molecular strategies of Sulfolobus sp. to survive at high temperature and to respond to thermal stress, focusing on the peculiar composition of the membrane and on the involvement of chaperonins. This chapter also analyses biological defense mechanisms and genetic responses to oxidative stress and chemical damage with particular attention to detoxification from metals and drugs.