People,

A bacteria cell has water in it, so once that freezes does not the cell lyse/explode? As in ice forming, expansion, and cell wall bursts? Sure, there is not just pure water inside the cell, salts/proteins/etc, but mainly water. There has to some kind of "anti freeze compound protecting them, correct? 

 

Thanks, people. 

My guess is some form of alcohol soluble in water, 

Edited April 24, 20214 yr by farsideofourmoon

3 hours ago, noquacks said:

People,

A bacteria cell has water in it, so once that freezes does not the cell lyse/explode? As in ice forming, expansion, and cell wall bursts? Sure, there is not just pure water inside the cell, salts/proteins/etc, but mainly water. There has to some kind of "anti freeze compound protecting them, correct? 

 

Thanks, people. 

Good question...not knowing the actual answer I did some googling....

https://www.sciencenewsforstudents.org/article/space-bacteria-survival-years-astrobiology#:~:text=Clumps of bacteria survived for,trip between Earth and Mars.

"Clumps of bacteria survived for three years on the outer surface of the International Space Station, pictured here. They were shielded from the hazards of space by only themselves. New research suggests such clumps might be able to survive a trip between Earth and Mars".

 

and this.....

https://www.smithsonianmag.com/science-nature/scientists-discover-exposed-bacteria-can-survive-space-years-180975660/

and some interested information.....

https://www.theguardian.com/science/2021/mar/18/new-bacteria-lurking-on-iss-no-space-oddity-says-scientist

"Four species of bacteria – three of them previously unknown to science – have been discovered onboard the International Space Station (ISS), begging questions about how they got there, and how they have managed to survive."

Edited April 24, 20214 yr by beecee

There are a few things that make bacteria more resilient. Many actually do burst, especially after repeated freeze-thaw cycles, but compared to most eukaryotic cells a combination of a bit more simple structure, potentially size but also more robust cell hull allow them to survive better.

However, there are also specialists that can survive extreme events (though a few eukaryotes such as the tardigrades (water bears) also fall into that category. Adaptations include changes in the lipid composition (toward shorter, unsaturated fatty acids) to keep it more fluid at low temperature as well as accumulation of metabolites and proteins that prevent crystallization, for example.

Thanks, people. Good to know I am not the only one a bit mystified. The lipid idea seems to make much sense. It is their "antifreeze", I suppose.