Abstract
Large populations (200 to 5,000 cells ml(-1) in snowmelt) of bacteria were present in surface snow and firn from the south pole sampled in January 1999 and 2000. DNA isolated from this snow yielded ribosomal DNA sequences similar to those of several psychrophilic bacteria and a bacterium which aligns closely with members of the genus Deinococcus, an ionizing-radiation- and desiccation-resistant genus. We also obtained evidence of low rates of bacterial DNA and protein synthesis which indicates that the organisms were metabolizing at ambient subzero temperatures (-12 to -17 degrees C).
Publication types
-
Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.
MeSH terms
-
Antarctic Regions
-
Bacteria / classification*
-
Bacteria / genetics
-
Bacteria / ultrastructure
-
Base Sequence
-
DNA Primers
-
DNA, Bacterial / genetics
-
DNA, Bacterial / isolation & purification
-
DNA, Ribosomal / genetics*
-
DNA, Ribosomal / isolation & purification
-
Desiccation
-
In Situ Hybridization, Fluorescence
-
Molecular Sequence Data
-
Phylogeny*
-
Polymerase Chain Reaction / methods
-
Radiation Tolerance
-
Snow*
-
Water Microbiology*
Substances
-
DNA Primers
-
DNA, Bacterial
-
DNA, Ribosomal
Associated data
-
GENBANK/AF239213
-
GENBANK/AF239800