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. 1982 Jan;149(1):166–172. doi: 10.1128/jb.149.1.166-172.1982

Regulation of fatty acid composition in Escherichia coli: a proposed common mechanism for changes induced by ethanol, chaotropic agents, and a reduction of growth temperature.

L O Ingram
PMCID: PMC216606  PMID: 7033206

Abstract

Growth of Escherichia coli in the presence of ethanol and chaotropic salts resulted in the synthesis of lipids containing elevated levels of unsaturated fatty acids analogous to the effect of a reduction in growth temperature. Both ethanol and chaotropic agents acted at the level of fatty acid biosynthesis and altered lipid composition by decreasing the proportion of saturated acyl chains available for the synthesis of phospholipids. A reduction in temperature causes similar effects on fatty acid biosynthesis in vivo and in vitro. Ethanol, chaotropic salts, and a decrease in temperature all weaken hydrophobic interactions. Antichaotropic salts antagonized and effects of these treatments on fatty acid synthesis in vitro. These results are consistent with a common mechanism for the effects of chaotropic agents, temperature, and ethanol on fatty acid synthesis. The biosynthesis of saturated and unsaturated acyl chains may be regulated by the strength of hydrophobic interactions. Changes in the strength of hydrophobic interactions could alter enzyme structure, substrate structure, or the equilibrium between the soluble enzymes of fatty acid synthesis and their respective acyl carrier protein substrates.

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Selected References

These references are in PubMed. This may not be the complete list of references from this article.

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