Different mechanisms of the biochemical adaptation of mycelial fungi to temperature stress: Changes in the lipid composition

A comparative study was conducted concerning the effect of temperature stre ss on the lipid composition of representatives of the subkingdoms Eomycota and Neomycota. Changes in the composition of lipid acyl chains (such as sat uration and desaturation, isomerization, and changes in the length of fatty acid carbon chains), in the phospholipid composition, and in the contents of sterols and other neutral lipids were revealed. Hyperthermia resulted in (i) an increase in the phosphatidylcholine level, (ii) a decrease in the p hosphatidyl-ethanolamine level, (iii) a rise in the content of reserve lipi ds (triacylglycerols), and (iv) a decline in the free fatty acid level in t he neutral lipids. An inverse pattern occurred under hypothermic conditions . The peculiarities in the patterns of the temperature adaptation-related c hanges in the lipid bilayer composition are considered in terms of the syst ematic position of the fungi.