Influence of environmental temperature on mitochondrial membranes

Mitochondrial phospholipids from goldfish lateral line muscle were analysed with respect to polar and apolar groups. Groups of 20 goldfish, acclimated to 5, 20 and 30 degrees C, were used. Temperature-induced shifts of both polar and apolar groups of the mitochondrial phospholipids were observed. The fatty acid composition of mitochondrial phospholipids is characterized by a large amount of polyenoic acids, dominated by docosahexaenoic acid and by octadecadienoic acid. At the higher acclimation temperatures, a significant decrease in docosahexaenoic acid is found. However, the resultant effect of environmental temperature on the degree of unsaturation is small, in contrast to the marked effect on mean chain length. Pronounced changes in the molar ratio of phosphatidylcholine and phosphatidylethanolamine are seen; a decrease in mitochondrial phosphatidylcholine is observed at low acclimation temperature, which is compensated for by a nearly equal increase in phosphatidylethanolamine. The main phospholipids are, apparently, phosphatidylcholine, phosphatidylethanolamine and cardiolipin, comprising 90% of the total pool of 12 species. It is found that the anionic nature of the phospholipids is increased at low acclimation temperatures. We discuss this effect and its probable importance in the stabilization of the surface potential of the mitochondrial membranes.