Extremophiles
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Extremophiles are organisms that thrive in (and may require) extreme environments. Most known extremophiles are microbes. Those that thrive in very hot environments are called ''thermophiles'' or ''hyperthermophiles'', while those that thrive in very salty environments are called ''halophiles''. Extremophiles can be contrasted with organisms that live in less extreme environments. Such organisms may be called ''mesophiles'' (living at moderate temperatures) or ''neutrophiles'' (living at neutral pH). | Extremophiles are organisms that thrive in (and may require) extreme environments. Most known extremophiles are microbes. Those that thrive in very hot environments are called ''thermophiles'' or ''hyperthermophiles'', while those that thrive in very salty environments are called ''halophiles''. Extremophiles can be contrasted with organisms that live in less extreme environments. Such organisms may be called ''mesophiles'' (living at moderate temperatures) or ''neutrophiles'' (living at neutral pH). | ||
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| + | Proteins of thermophiles and halophiles tend to be more stable, and easier to manage in the laboratory, than proteins from mesophiles. Extremophile proteins have been very useful in crystallography and [[Structural genomics|structural genomics]], yielding many new structures<ref>PMID: 17563834</ref>. For example, the [[Nobel_Prizes_for_3D_Molecular_Structure|Nobel Prize-winning]] structures of the [[Ribosome|ribosome]] were determined using proteins from the thermophile ''Thermus thermophilus'' and the halophile ''Thermus thermophilus'' (see 2009 at [[Nobel Prizes for 3D Molecular Structure]]). | ||
==External Resources== | ==External Resources== | ||
| - | * | + | *[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Extremophiles Extremophiles] at Wikipedia. |
Revision as of 18:34, 16 October 2009
Extremophiles are organisms that thrive in (and may require) extreme environments. Most known extremophiles are microbes. Those that thrive in very hot environments are called thermophiles or hyperthermophiles, while those that thrive in very salty environments are called halophiles. Extremophiles can be contrasted with organisms that live in less extreme environments. Such organisms may be called mesophiles (living at moderate temperatures) or neutrophiles (living at neutral pH).
Proteins of thermophiles and halophiles tend to be more stable, and easier to manage in the laboratory, than proteins from mesophiles. Extremophile proteins have been very useful in crystallography and structural genomics, yielding many new structures[1]. For example, the Nobel Prize-winning structures of the ribosome were determined using proteins from the thermophile Thermus thermophilus and the halophile Thermus thermophilus (see 2009 at Nobel Prizes for 3D Molecular Structure).
External Resources
- Extremophiles at Wikipedia.
