Molecular Basis for Thermostability

Thermophilic bacteria have always fascinated scientists because of their tolerance and ability to thrive at extreme temperatures where no other living organisms survive. This has led to immense knowledge of the molecular mechanisms these bacteria possess mostly by comparing psychrophilic and mesophilic molecules with molecules of high-temperature origin. This chapter deals with how thermophilic and extremophilic bacteria adapt their cellular membranes, nucleic acids, and proteins to thrive and survive extreme heat.