Starvation Response of the Marine Barophile CNPT-3

The psychrophilic marine barophile CNPT-3 underwent a starvation-survival response similar to that reported for the marine bacteria Ant-300, DW1, and S-14. The number of culturable cells increased initially and then decreased gradually over a 24-day starvation period, with corresponding decreases in total cell number and direct viability count. A significant reduction in cell size and biovolume accompanied these changes. Starved cells demonstrated a greater tendency to attach at the in situ pressure (400 atm; ca. 40.5 MPa) and temperature (5 degrees C) than at 1 atm (ca. 101 kPa), and the extent of attachment increased with increasing duration of starvation. The membrane fatty acid profile of the marine barophile CNPT-3 was studied as the cells were subjected to starvation conditions. A 37.5% increase in saturated fatty acids was observed during the first 8 days of starvation, with a concomitant decrease in unsaturated fatty acids. There was also an increase in the amount of short-chain (<C(15:0)) fatty acids.