Mixture of saturated and unsaturated fatty acids

Reference no: EM1385854

The Little Bacterium That Can't.Acholeplasma laidlawii is a small bacterium that cannot synthesize its own fatty acids and must therefore construct its plasma membrane from whatever fatty acids are available in the environment. As a result, the Acholeplasma membrane takes on the physical characteristics of the fatty acids available at the time.

(a) If you give Acholeplasma cells access to a mixture of saturated and unsaturated fatty acids, they will thrive at room temperature. Can you explain why?

(b)If you transfer the bacteria of part a to a medium containing only saturated fatty acids but make no other changes in culture conditions, they will stop growing shortly after the change in medium. Explain why.

(c) What is one way you could get the bacteria of part b growing again without changing the medium? Explain your reasoning.

(d)If you were to maintain the Acholeplasma culture of part b under the conditions described there for an extended period of time, what do you predict will happen to the bacterial cells? Explain your reasoning.

(e) What result would you predict if you were to transfer the bacteria of part a to a medium containing only unsaturated fatty acids without making any other changes in the culture conditions? Explain your reasoning.

Reference no: EM1385854

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