title: The effects of growth temperature on the methyl sterol and phospholipid fatty acid composition of Methylococcus capsulatus (Bath).
abstract: Growth of Methylococcus capsulatus (Bath) at temperatures ranging from 30 to 50 degrees C resulted in changes to the whole cell lipid constituents.  As temperature was lowered, the overall proportion of hexadecenoic acid (C16:1) increased, and the relative proportions of the delta 9, delta 10 and delta 11 C16:1 double bond positional isomers changed.  Methyl sterol content also increased as the growth temperature was lowered.  The highest amounts of methyl sterol were found in 30 degrees C cells and the lowest in 50 degrees C cells (sterol-phospholipid ratios of 0.077 and 0.013, respectively).  The data are consistent with a membrane modulating role for the sterol produced by this prokaryotic organism.
authors.affiliation: NASA-Ames Research Center, Moffett Field, CA.
authors.forename: L L
authors.initials: LL
authors.lastname: Jahnke
mesh_terms: D002462:Cell Membrane / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology; D002849:Chromatography, Gas; D005227:Fatty Acids / Q000032:analysis; D005231:Fatty Acids, Unsaturated / Q000032:analysis; D008560:Membrane Fluidity / Q000502:physiology*; D008563:Membrane Lipids / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology; D008772:Methylococcaceae / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism; D010743:Phospholipids / Q000032:analysis* / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism; D013261:Sterols / Q000032:analysis* / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000378:metabolism; D013696:Temperature
chemical_list: D005227:Fatty Acids; D005231:Fatty Acids, Unsaturated; D008563:Membrane Lipids; D010743:Phospholipids; D013261:Sterols