Final answer:
Enzymes that function at boiling water temperatures or under other extreme conditions, such as those produced by thermophilic bacteria, are known as thermoenzymes or thermostable enzymes. They have unique structural adaptations allowing them to withstand high temperatures, making them useful in various industrial and biotechnological applications.
Step-by-step explanation:
Enzymes that can function at boiling water temperatures or other harsh conditions are termed thermoenzymes or thermostable enzymes. Thermoenzymes are distinctive in that they maintain their activity and do not denature under extreme temperature conditions which are typically lethal to most organisms, around 25-40°C.
Notably, the enzymes produced by certain thermophilic bacteria, such as Bacillus stearothermophilus and Thermus aquaticus, like Taq polymerase, are used in industrial processes, like the polymerase chain reaction (PCR), because they can withstand and function at high temperatures.
These enzymes have optimally adapted to their environment with structural differences that provide stability, like increased saturated lipids in membranes and higher proportions of guanine-cytosine in DNA, compared to mesophiles.
Such adaptations make them invaluable in industries where reactions at higher temperatures are beneficial. Thermoenzymes' adaptability to high temperatures has led to their use in applications requiring high temperature stability, such as laundry detergents and contact lens cleaners.