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Psychrotrophy and adaptation to low temperatures: microbial membrane lipids.

Author(s) : RUSSELL N. J.

Summary

Cold-adapted microbes must be capable of growing at low temperatures. They contains proteins which have evolved over a long timescale to function at such temperatures. In the short-term it is the ability to adapt membrane lipid fatty acid composition which is relevant to the ability of cold-adapted microbe to out-compete another in a foodstuff. A decrease in growth temperature may result in an increase in fatty acid unsaturation or methyl branching, a change in type of branching, or a decrease in acyl chain length, or a combination of any of these alterations. The mechanisms which are used vary from one microbe to another. Moreover, the response of any one particular species can vary depending on the available nutrients and other conditions of growth. However, a common feature of all these changes is that they are a mechanism to prevent the lipid bilayer within the membrane converting from the liquid-crystalline to the gel phase. Such preservation of the fluidity of the cellular membrane(s), is vital for a cold-adapted microbe to grow and divide, and therefore to compete effectively with other microbial flora within the food.

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Pages: 359-365

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Details

  • Original title: Psychrotrophy and adaptation to low temperatures: microbial membrane lipids.
  • Record ID : 1996-0931
  • Languages: English
  • Source: For a Better Quality of Life. 19th International Congress of Refrigeration.
  • Publication date: 1995/08/20
  • Document available for consultation in the library of the IIR headquarters only.

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