Question

Which of the following processes will most likely occur when you transfer a bacterial culture from 37 degree C to 10 degrees C?

a) the bacteria will start synthesizing cholesterol

b) the bacteria will remove cholesterol from their membranes

c) the bacteria will reduce the number of unsaturated bonds in the fatty acid tails of their phospholipids

d) the bacteria will increase the synthesis of phospholipids with very long fatty acid tails and insert these into their membranes

e) the bacteria will increase the synthesis of phospholipids with unsaturated fatty acid tails and insert these into their membranes

Answer 1

Here the most appropriate option is (e) the bacteria will increase the synthesis of phospholipids with unsaturated fatty acid tails and insert these into their membranes. When bacteria will face this type of transition of temperature, they have to regulate membrane fluidity for functioning properly. We know,when the number of unsaturated fatty acids increases, the fluidity of cell membrane also increases. This regulatory system is known as thermal control of fatty acid synthesis. Hence, the will increase the synthesis of phospholipids with unsaturated fatty acid tails and insert these into their membranes for getting the fluidity of membrane.