Far from being \"primitive\", bacteria have evolved until they are ideally suite

Question

Far from being "primitive", bacteria have evolved until they are ideally suited for the environment in which they live. For each of the following bacteria, describe and explain the particular evolutionary adaptation(s) that allow(s) them to colonize the environment in which they live.

A. Thermophiles - How have their membranes (lipids and proteins) evolved to survive in their preferred environment?

B. Microaerophiles - How have they evolved to locate their preferred environment in soil?

C. Halophiles - How have they adapted (proteins and cytoplasmic contents) for their preferred environment?

D. Motile bacteria - How have they evolved to be able to locate and uptake nutrients from nutrient-poor environments?

Explanation / Answer

A.Thermophiles- they are survive in preferred environment due to its unique structure of polar lipid Sn-glycerol-1-Phosphate backbone,ether linkage and isoprenoid hydrocarbon chains which make them stable in extremely hot condition. Enzymes having sulphur also provide stability and can work in high temperature.

B. Microaerophiles- The respiratory chain enzyme of microaerophiles bacteria should play a major role in their suviving behavior in soil having low oxygen. The gene encoding NADH quinone reductase (NDH-1) , the ubiquinol, cytochome C oxidoreductase ( bc 1 Complex ) the thermak oxidases causes these bacteria to preferred eenvironment in soil.

C. Halophiles- they adapt their preferred environment by having 2 characteristics-

1. It exclude salt from their cytoplasm to avoid protein aggregation.

2. Selective influx of potassium ions in to the cytoplasm.

D. Motile bacteria - They consume nutrients by chemotactic response towards food. The sense stimulant gradient which causes clustering of signals and then they swim by flagella and get their food in low nutrient condition.

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