Genetic Regulation of Temperature Responses

Abstract

Growth of microorganisms is the consequence of a complex and highly interdependent set of chemical reactions through which cells are able to replicate themselves efficiently and quickly. Hence, if we are to inquire as to the effect of temperature on microbial growth, we should first consider how chemical reactions are affected. Temperature affects both the equilibrium constant and the rate of chemical reactions in known and predictable ways; the velocity of a reaction is a logarithmic function of the reciprocal of absolute temperature according to the equation:

$$v = s{e^{ - \Delta E*/RT}}$$

where v = the velocity of the reaction, s = a constant, △E* is the activation energy, R = the gas constant, and T = temperature in °K. Upon integration we have the form:

$$In\,v\, = \,\frac{{ - \Delta E*}}{R} \cdot \frac{1}{T} + cons\tan t.$$

Thus, the logarithm of the velocity of a chemical reaction is a linear function of the reciprocal of absolute temperature (°K) (Fig. 1a).