Abstract:
Almost three-quarters of the Earth’s surface are covered by cold ecosystems, involving
the depths of ocean, and Polar Regions. These continuous cold environments have been
successfully covered by members of extremophiles which are known as psychrophiles
(means cold-loving). To grow at temperatures that are close to, or below, the freezing
point of water requires many adaptations. To survive in such cold weather, psychrophilic
organisms developed structural, physiological and molecular adaptations. This includes
the membrane fluidity, production of specialized proteins and cold-active enzymes. The
cold adaptation of psychrophilic organisms is poorly understood. Psychrophilic products
have generated considerable interest; they can be used to improve the efficiency of
industrial processes and also for environmental applications. They may add new insights
into the understanding of catalytic mechanism of enzymes. Because of their higher
specificity and high catalytic efficiency, the cold-active enzymes are generating more
interest in various fields.
