COLD STRESS RESPONSES IN MESOPHILIC BACTERIA

The diversity of the prokaryotes that have been studied, combined with the many different effects of low temperature, has led to an extensiv e literature concerning cold stress responses in mesophilic bacteria. The aim of this review is to discuss the effects of cold on the behavi or of bacteria. The following three responses will be described: (i) b iochemical modifications consisting first of membrane fatty acid desat uration and second of the synthesis of cold stress proteins. (ii) phys iological responses of the cells to permit growth at low temperatures above 0 degrees C and cryotolerance at lower temperatures, and (iii) c ontrol of the cold shock response at a transcriptional and/or translat ional level. This paper reviews knowledge, most of which has been acqu ired in the last 10 years, in the field of cold stress responses. It i s hoped that these data will help to focus attention on the metabolic responses associated with environmental disturbance. (C) 1998 Academic Press.