Question

What are some similarities and differences between extremophiles metabolic pathway and ours?

Answer 1

Extremophiles are those microorganisms that live under extreme conditions such as low temperature, high temperature, high ionising radiations, extreme pressure, high acidic conditions, high saline conditions etc.

Similarities.

1- There are common patheways of DNA replication, RNA and protein synthesis in both with little modifications.

2- Both have same 20 amino acids for protein synthesis.

3- Both have ATP as energy source and NADP and FADH as cofactors.

4- Both use sugars as fuels for Living.

5- Both have some common metabolic pathways like pentose phosphate patheway, nucleotide biosynthesis and amino acid biosynthesis.

Differences

1- Both have 20 amino acids but their composition differs. It is the composition of amino acids in plasma membrane which makes extremophiles so resistant.

2- we have TCA cycle, oxidative phosphorylation etc but extremophiles lack this mechanisms.

3- Mode of replication, transcription and translation differs as the cell structure and organelles differ.

4-Extremophiles have tendency to synthesise all 20 amino Acids but we can't.

5- Extremophiles need modified patheways for metabolism because under specialized conditions they need a special type of patheways. Moreover the patheways and mode of nutrition differs from one extremophile to other, hence i can't describe every patheway here.