title: Effect of selected environmental and physico-chemical factors on bacterial cytoplasmic membranes.
abstract: Membranes lipids are one of the most adaptable molecules in response to perturbations. Even subtle changes of the composition of acyl chains or head groups can alter the packing arrangements of lipids within the bilayer. This changes the balance between bilayer and nonbilayer lipids, serving to affect bilayer stability and fluidity, as well as altering lipid-protein interactions. External factors can also change membrane fluidity and lipid composition; including temperature, chemicals, ions, pressure, nutrients and the growth phase of the microbial culture. Various biophysical techniques have been used to monitor fluidity changes within the bacterial membrane. In this review, bacterial cytoplasmic membrane changes and related functional effects will be examined as well as the use of fluorescence polarization methods and examples of data obtained from research with bacteria.
authors.affiliation: Department of Environmental Biology, University of Guelph, Guelph, Ontario, Canada N1G 2W1.
authors.forename: T J
authors.initials: TJ
authors.lastname: Denich
authors.forename: L A
authors.initials: LA
authors.lastname: Beaudette
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: J T
authors.initials: JT
authors.lastname: Trevors
mesh_terms: D001419:Bacteria / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism / Q000648:ultrastructure; D002462:Cell Membrane / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000187:drug effects; D004777:Environment; D005227:Fatty Acids / Q000737:chemistry / Q000145:classification; D006358:Hot Temperature; D050356:Lipid Metabolism; D008055:Lipids / Q000032:analysis / Q000145:classification; D008560:Membrane Fluidity / Q000502:physiology; D008565:Membrane Proteins / Q000502:physiology; D015394:Molecular Structure; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000378:metabolism / Q000633:toxicity; D015262:Xenobiotics / Q000378:metabolism / Q000633:toxicity
chemical_list: D005227:Fatty Acids; D008055:Lipids; D008565:Membrane Proteins; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical; D015262:Xenobiotics