Eastern Kentucky University
Thermophilic Enzyme Stability: Turning Up the Heat on Thermophilic Enzymes
Institution
Eastern Kentucky University
Faculty Advisor/ Mentor
Martin Brock
Abstract
We investigated the thermostability of the enzyme glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase from the thermophilic bacterium, bacillus stearothermophilus. Enzymes from this organism are known for being much more stable at high temperatures than analogous enzymes from organisms thriving at more normal temperatures. Heat stable enzymes, such as the DNA polymerase used in PCR analysis by forensic scientists, have been shown to have great commercial value, and more research on the reasons for thermostability is needed.
Thermophilic Enzyme Stability: Turning Up the Heat on Thermophilic Enzymes
We investigated the thermostability of the enzyme glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase from the thermophilic bacterium, bacillus stearothermophilus. Enzymes from this organism are known for being much more stable at high temperatures than analogous enzymes from organisms thriving at more normal temperatures. Heat stable enzymes, such as the DNA polymerase used in PCR analysis by forensic scientists, have been shown to have great commercial value, and more research on the reasons for thermostability is needed.