How Does The Bacillus Survive Fluctuations In Temperature In Environment Without Spore Formation
Under harsh environmental conditions such as extreme fluctuations in temperature expression of genes are induced that result in synthesis of proteins that enable the bacillus to survive. Also, bacillus can acquire exogenous compounds through transport system to survive fluctuations in temperature in order to prevent plasmolysis.
For example: When environment is very hot the bacillus is under osmotic stress because it’s in a hypertonic state. The amount of dissolved solutes in bacillus cell is less than that in the environment. In other words the concentration of water is greater within bacillus cell than its environment; as result water moves from within the cell into the environment. To survive bacillus accumulates compounds from environment to balance the difference in solute concentration. These compounds are known as osmoprotectants and can also be synthesized by the bacillus. In addition, bacillus genome encode for osmoprotectants that are temperature sensitive such as chaperones and protease.
By: Faith I.