Temperature compensation and membrane composition in Neurospora crassa

The link between temperature compensation of the circadian rhythm and temperature-induced adjustment of membrane composition in Neurospora crassa is briefly reviewed. In common with most organisms, Neurospora responds to changes in growth temperature by adjusting its lipid composition, primarily by...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Chronobiology international 1997-09, Vol.14 (5), p.445-454
Main Authors: Lakin-Thomas, P L, Brody, S, Coté, G G
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Cell Membrane - chemistry
Cell Membrane - physiology
Circadian Rhythm
Membrane Fluidity
Membrane Lipids - metabolism
Neurospora crassa - physiology
Temperature
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Summary:The link between temperature compensation of the circadian rhythm and temperature-induced adjustment of membrane composition in Neurospora crassa is briefly reviewed. In common with most organisms, Neurospora responds to changes in growth temperature by adjusting its lipid composition, primarily by increasing the degree of unsaturation of its fatty acids at low temperature. This may result in maintenance of either membrane fluidity or phase transition behavior over a range of temperatures. In Neurospora, there are three mutations (frq, cel, and chol-1) that affect temperature compensation of the circadian rhythm; cel and chol-1 are defective in lipid synthesis, and frq interacts with the other two in double-mutant strains. This suggests that lipid metabolism may play a role in temperature compensation of the rhythm, and that the FRQ gene product may also be involved in membrane function, either in regulating lipid composition or as a sensor responding to changes in lipid composition.
ISSN:0742-0528
DOI:10.3109/07420529709001467