Tuesday, 13 February 2007

proteins - What's the opposite of a thermophile?

Thermophiles, heat-loving organisms, have been a popular topic of research for decades due in large part to the utility of their enzymes in various chemical reactions (Taq Pol single-enzymedly made PCR practical). One of the signatures of thermophiles is that their proteins resist heat denaturation up to much higher temperatures than their mesophilic (middle-loving) homologs.



Is there a corresponding group of extremophiles whose proteins resist cold denaturation down to much lower temperature than their mesophilic homologs? If so, could someone please point me towards a few good literature reviews on the topic? Or at least give me the proper name for this group of cold-loving extremophiles?

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