Answer the following Questions In the space provided and use

Answer the following Questions In the space provided and use drawings to illustrate your response When a recently isolated species of bacteria usually found at 15 degree C is cultured at 37 degree C, and considering that this bacteria were \"typical\", what would you expect to see with regard to the fatty acid composition of the membrane? and Why? State clearly your reasoning

Solution

Bacteria have been classified into 3 types, depending on the growth temperature (optimum temperature for growth). They are –

Psychrophilic bacteria are again two types depending on temperature. They are Psychrophiles – the bacteria normally grown at 0°C to 20°C, Psychrotrophs – these bacteria normally grown at 15°C and grown at maximum temperature of 37°C

Generally, low temperatures are very harmful to the bacterial growth in respect of membrane fluidity, that’s why the psychrophilic bacteria have contains higher proportion of poly unsaturated fatty acids, methyl-branched fatty acids and high content of cis-unsaturated fatty acids, antesio-branched fatty acids. The fatty acid composition has a key role in increasing membrane fluidity. It is helpful the bacteria can grow at very low temperatures to 37°C