BISC 300 Secondary Chapter 16

Thermophile

Heat-loving organism growing above 50°C.

Psychrophile

Cold-loving organism growing below 20°C.

Acidophile

Organism growing at pH below 3.

Alkaliphile

Organism growing at pH above 8.

Halophile

Salt-loving organism requiring over 2% NaCl.

Compatible Solute

Inert molecule stored internally to prevent osmotic water loss.

Mechanosensitive Channel

Membrane pore that dumps internal solutes during osmotic shock.

Taq Polymerase

Heat-stable DNA polymerase used in PCR.

Histone-Like Protein

DNA-binding protein stabilizing double strands against heat.

Antifreeze Protein

Protein preventing micro-ice crystal growth in psychrophiles.

Saturated Fatty Acid

Straight-chain lipid packing tightly to prevent membrane melting.

Unsaturated Fatty Acid

Kinked-chain lipid keeping membranes fluid in cold.

Ferroplasma

Acidophilic archaeon living at pH 0.

Natranomonas

Alkaliphilic organism living at pH 10.5.

Haloarchaea

Pink carotenoid-producing archaea living in 20–30% salt.