Abstract
Microorganisms in polar areas may have important ecological roles in biogeochemical cycles and the food chain. They are adapted to polar environments by means of special physiological adaptation mechanisms that include cold-adapted enzymes and cryoprotectants such as exopolysaccharides. Culture collections for polar microorganisms can provide research resources for ecological and physiological studies. The Polar and Alpine Microbial Collection (PAMC) is a specialized culture collection for maintenance and distribution of polar and alpine microorganisms. A database system was developed to share important data fields with DarwinCore2 and Ocean Biogeographic Information System database schemas. Approximately 1,500 out of 5,500 strains maintained in PAMC have been identified and belonged primarily to the phyla Actinobacteria, Bacteroidetes, Firmicutes, and Proteobacteria. Many of the microbial strains can grow at low temperature and produce proteases, lipases, and/or exopolysaccharides. PAMC provides search tools based on keywords such as taxonomy, geographical origin, habitat, and physiological characteristics. Biological materials and information provided by PAMC will be important resources for ecological and physiological studies on polar and alpine microorganisms.
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Acknowledgments
We thank Jumin Lee (Bada System) for his help in preparing the figures and tables. This research was supported by the Korea Polar Research Institute (grants PE06050, PE11030, and E411060).
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300_2012_1182_MOESM2_ESM.pptx
Fig. S1 Interface for searching strains. a The advanced search interface for a multi-criteria search. b The result page of a strain search (PPTX 194 kb)
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Lee, Y.M., Kim, G., Jung, YJ. et al. Polar and Alpine Microbial Collection (PAMC): a culture collection dedicated to polar and alpine microorganisms. Polar Biol 35, 1433–1438 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00300-012-1182-7
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00300-012-1182-7