A geothermal amoeba sets a new upper temperature limit for eukaryotes.
A geothermal amoeba, Incendiamoeba cascadensis, divides at 63°C and remains motile up to 64°C, setting a new upper temperature limit for eukaryotic life.
- Why it matters: Understanding the temperature boundaries of life informs the limits of biological resilience and the potential for life in extreme environments, which has been largely unexplored for eukaryotes.
- What they did: Researchers isolated I. cascadensis and used comparative RNA sequencing to analyze gene expression, revealing adaptations related to proteostasis, DNA repair, and membrane trafficking at high temperatures.
- The result: The findings demonstrate that eukaryotes can survive and function at higher temperatures than previously known, with protein adaptations similar to hyperthermophilic archaea and bacteria, broadening the scope of life's possible habitats.