Effects of temperature acclimation on Neurospora phospholipids. Fatty acid desaturation appears to be a key element in modifying phospholipid fluid properties.

Experiments were conducted on the effect of growth temperature on phospholipids of Neurospora. Strains grown at high (37 degrees C) and low (15 degrees C) temperatures show large differences in the proportions of phospholipid fatty acid alpha-linolenate (18 : 3) which can vary by 10-fold over this temperature range. Changes in the phospholipid base composition are less dramatic; the most significant is an increase in phosphatidylethanolamines at low temperatures accompanied by a concomitant decrease in phosphatidylcholine. It appears that phospholipid fatty acid desaturation is closely regulated with respect to growth temperature. Over the 37 to 15 degrees C growth temperature range there appear to be at least two desaturase systems in Neurospora which are under different controls. Production of 18 : 1 and 18 : 2 species appears to occur at high levels over the entire temperature range, whereas the production of 18 : 3 seems to be inversely related to growth temperature. Shifting 37 degrees C-acclimated cultures to 15 degrees C produces a growth lag period of approximately 3 h, during which the level of 18 : 3 increases markedly. Differential scanning calorimetry of phospholipids from 37 degrees C cells shows a phase transition at -22 degrees C while lipids from 15 degrees C cultures exhibit a phase transition with reduced enthalpy at about -41 degrees C. The data are consistent with the idea that phospholipid composition in Neurospora is under strict control and suggest that membrane fluidity is regulated with respect to growth temperature through changes in membrane lipid composition.