Genome-scale analysis of protein function distribution of extremophilic archaea using COG database

Extremophilic archaea have a variety of adaptations that they have developed in order to cope with their environmental conditions. In this study, we analyze the distribution of protein-coding genes of the archaea listed in NCBI’s COG database in order to observe changes in the way these genes have been distributed among functional categories for the different types of extremophilic groups. We found that the category T (Signal transduction mechanisms) presents variations that are more related to the extremophilic adaptations than other categories, and that some metabolic categories seem to be related indirectly to the extreme environments in which these groups thrive. These findings could be useful in studying how the distribution of protein functions affects life in unexplored extreme environments on Earth or elsewhere, and when designing modified organisms that can be used for human exploration support in these environments.