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How do bacteria sense and respond to low temperature?

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Abstract

Rigidification of the membrane appears to be the primary signal perceived by a bacterium when exposed to low temperature. The perception and transduction of the signal then occurs through a two-component signal transduction pathway consisting of a membrane-associated sensor and a cytoplasmic response regulator and as a consequence a set of cold-regulated genes are activated. In addition, changes in DNA topology due to change in temperature may also trigger cold-responsive mechanisms. Inducible proteins thus accumulated repair the damage caused by cold stress. For example, the fluidity of the rigidified membrane is restored by altering the levels of saturated and unsaturated fatty acids, by altering the fatty acid chain length, by changing the proportion of cis to trans fatty acids and by changing the proportion of anteiso to iso fatty acids. Bacteria could also achieve membrane fluidity changes by altering the protein content of the membrane and by altering the levels of the type of carotenoids synthesized. Changes in RNA secondary structure, changes in translation and alteration in protein conformation could also act as temperature sensors. This review highlights the various strategies by which bacteria senses low temperature signal and as to how it responds to the change.

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Abbreviations

Carbon regulation:

The preferred carbon source prevents the simultaneous utilization of alternative carbon sources

Core enzyme:

Core enzyme of RNA polymerase (α2ββ′-subunits)

ECF:

Extracytosolic function

General stress response:

A stress response induced by a set of diverse environmental stimuli

GSP:

General stress proteins

LPXTG motif:

Amino acid motif for sortase anchoring

Partner switching:

Formation of alternative protein complexes that is controlled by protein phosphorylation

RpoS:

Sigma factor of general stress response of E. coli and other Gram-negative bacteria

Rsb:

Regulator of sigmaB

SigB-GSR:

SigB-dependent general stress response

Specific stress/starvation response:

Induced by only one stimulus, adaptation against this stimulus only

Vegetative dormancy:

A quiescent metabolic state of vegetative cells

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Acknowledgments

This work was supported by a grant from the India–Japan Cooperative Science Programme of the Department of Science and Technology, Government of India and the Japanese Society for the Promotion of Science, Government of Japan and the Network Project titled “Exploitation of India’s rich microbial diversity” funded by CSIR to SS.

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  1. Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology, Uppal Road, Hyderabad, 500 007, India

    S. Shivaji

  2. Department of Plant Sciences, School of Life Sciences, University of Hyderabad, Hyderabad, India

    Jogadhenu S. S. Prakash

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  1. S. Shivaji
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Correspondence to S. Shivaji.

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Communicated by Erko Stackebrandt.

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Shivaji, S., Prakash, J.S.S. How do bacteria sense and respond to low temperature?. Arch Microbiol 192, 85–95 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00203-009-0539-y

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