Temperature as a factor regulating the synthesis of microbial enzymes.

Temperature affects the formation of several enzymes permanently during long-term growth (e.g. penicillinases, proteases, respiratory enzymes) or transiently immediately after a heat or cold shock (RNA polymerase, aminoacyl-t-RNA synthetases, ribonucleases and others). The synthesis of developmentally regulated enzymes may be suppressed by temperatures permissive for growth but not for differentiation (e.g. sporulation). The control of enzyme formation by temperature may be operating at the level of template multiplication (plasmid DNA), transcription, translation or formation of low-molecular-weight effectors.