The first thermophilic piezophilic archaea Pyrococcus yayanosii strain CH1 was isolated from the Ashadze site, a deep sea hydrothermal vent.
The term "obligate piezophile" refers to organisms that are unable to grow under lower hydrostatic pressures, such as 0.1 MPa.
Although the study of nutrient acquisition and metabolism within the piezosphere is still in its infancy, it is understood that most of the organic matter present are refractory complex polymers from the eutrophic zone.
The application of pressure results in equilibrium shifting towards state occupying small volume and it changes intermolecular distances and affects conformations.
However, to carry out several processes like DNA replication, transcription and translation, the transition to single-strand structure is necessary, which becomes difficult as high pressure increases the melting temperature, Tm.
[5] When pressure increases, the fluidity of the cell membrane is decreased as due to restrictions in volume they change their conformation and packing.
[15] In pressure-intolerant species, proteins tend to compact and unfold under high pressures as overall volume is reduced.
High pressures tend to favor enzymes with higher flexibility at the cost of lower stability.
Additionally, piezophilic enzymes often have high absolute (distinct from temperature or pressure) and relative catalytic activity.
An increased amount of anti-oxidation genes and proteins are found in piezophiles to combat the ROS as they often cause cellular damage.