Question

A colony of bacteria accustomed to an environment with a temperature of $\mathbf{25}{}^{\mathbf{\circ }}\mathbf{C}$was moved to an identical environment, except that its temperature was $\mathbf{35}{}^{\mathbf{\circ }}\mathbf{C}$. The higher temperature increased the fluidity of the bacterial membranes. How can the bacteria regain their original membrane fluidity?

Short answer

The bacteria can regain their original membrane fluidity if they synthesize fatty acids in larger quantities.

Step-by-step solution

Membrane fluidity

The viscosity that exists in the cell membrane of a lipid bilayer is called membrane fluidity. This factor is influenced by the packing of the lipids in the membrane.

Factors affecting the membrane fluidity

Several factors affect membrane fluidity. One of the major factors is the temperature rise of the membrane. An increase in temperature leads to lipid movement making the membrane fluid.

Membrane fluidity in bacteria

The main control of membrane fluidity in fatty acid components is present in phosphoglycerides.

If saturated fatty acids are present, it leads to a decrease in membrane fluidity because of the close packing of saturated hydrocarbons in the hydrocarbon chain.

If the bacteria can synthesize more saturated fatty acids, it is possible to regain the original membrane fluidity by bacteria.