Effect of Environmental Factors on the trans/cis Ratio of Unsaturated Fatty Acids in Pseudomonas putida S12

The membrane reactions of Pseudomonas putida S12 to environmental stress were investigated. Cells reacted to the addition of six different heavy metals with an increase in the ratio of trans to cis unsaturated fatty acids. A correlation among the increase in the trans/cis ratio, the toxic effects of the heavy metals, and nonspecific permeabilization of the cytoplasmic membrane, as indicated by an efflux of potassium ions, was measured. Cells previously adapted to toxic concentrations of toluene exhibited increased tolerance to all applied concentrations of zinc compared with nonadapted cells. Cells exposed to different temperatures grew optimally at 30(deg)C. The degree of saturation of the membrane fatty acids of these cells decreased with decreasing temperature. An increase in the trans/cis ratio of unsaturated fatty acids took place only at higher temperatures. Osmotic stress, expressed as reduced water activity, was obtained by using different types of solutes. Only in the presence of toxic concentrations of sodium chloride or sucrose did the trans/cis ratio increase. At no applied water activity a significant effect of glycerol on the trans/cis ratio was measured. When cells were exposed to different pHs, a distinct optimum cis/trans isomerase activity was measured at pHs between 4.0 and 5.0, whereas at higher or lower pHs no reaction occurred. This optimum coincided with a loss of viability between pH 4 and 5.