The secondary structure and amino acid composition of proteins from hyperthermophiles differ somewhat from proteins in mesophiles.What would you expect to find in thermophiles?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Proteins from thermophiles are adapted to function at high temperatures and are therefore more stable. α-helices are more stable in high temperatures than β-sheets, so thermophiles would be expected to have more α-helices. The amino acids tyrosine and arginine are not necessarily more prevalent in thermophiles, so options A, C, and D are incorrect. Cysteine and serine are not necessarily more prevalent in thermophiles either, but they are more likely to be conserved in proteins that require structural stability, so option E is also incorrect.

The Secondary Structure and Amino Acid Composition of Proteins from Hyperthermophiles