Question

7. Suppose you were culturing a population of bacteria at 15 degrees Celsius and then raised the temperature of the culture to 37 degrees Celsius. What effect do you think this might have on the fatty acid composition of the membrane? On the transition temperature of the lipid bilayer? On the activity of membrane desaturases?

Answer 1

See below

Step-by-step explanation:

1. An increase in the temperature will result in greater fluidity of the lipid bilayer membrane, since the unsaturated fatty acids are increased. The membrane tends to be stiff at lower/colder temperatures.
2. The transition temperature refers to the temperature at which the membrane goes from solid to liquid state, which will be raised in this case. This is due to the increase in saturation of fatty acids.
3. The activity of the enzymes membrane desaturases will decrease under these conditions.