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.