Sunday, September 30, 2007

THERMOZYMES


Organisms able to survive and thrive in extreme environmental conditions,


possess highly stable enzymes called extremozymes which are grouped into


various categories such as enzymes that function at high temperatures


(thermozymes), high salt levels (halozymes) and under alkaline conditions


(alkalozymes). Thermophilic enzymes are barely active in the temperature range


of 20 – 30 oC, but fully active at temperatures higher than the optimal growth


temperatures of other organisms. These enzymes develop unique structural and


functional properties of high thermo stability and optical activity at


temperatures above 70oC; some of the enzymes discovered are found to be active


at temperatures of 110 oC and above.

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