Bacteria are known to change the kinds of fatty acids they p

Bacteria are known to change the kinds of fatty acids they produce as the temperature of their environment changes. What types of changes would you expect if the temperature drops? Why would this be adaptive?

Solution

Optimum temperature is essential for the growth of bacteria. But they show adaptations for cold and hot conditions. Bacteria have the ability to alter their membrane fatty acid compositions as temperature changes in order to keep the membrane functions normally. When the surrounding temperature decreases plasma membranes of bacteria tend to become rigid and prevents the nutrient flow (decreased fluidity of the membrance) . In such conditions it produced high concentratins of unsaturated fatty acids in the membrane to compensate the activity. This unique ability is known as homeoviscus adaptation.The most common unsaturated fatty acid found under cold climate is cis-9-hexadecanoic acid.