Mesophiles typically have longer fatty acid tails and more saturated carbon-carbon bonds in their cytoplasmic tails compared with thermophiles.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Mesophiles typically have shorter fatty acid tails and less saturated carbon-carbon bonds in their cytoplasmic tails compared with thermophiles. This is because longer, more saturated tails make membranes more rigid, which helps thermophiles maintain structure and function at high temperatures. Mesophiles, on the other hand, thrive at moderate temperatures and therefore have more fluid membranes with shorter and more unsaturated fatty acid tails.

Mesophiles Typically Have Longer Fatty Acid Tails and More Saturated