The bacterial protective armor against stress: The cis-trans isomerase of unsaturated fatty acids, a cytochrome-c type enzyme

Bacteria have evolved several outstanding strategies to resist to compounds or factors that compromise their survival. The first line of defense of the cell against environmental stresses is the membrane with fatty acids as fundamental building blocks of phospholipids. In this review, we focus on a periplasmic heme enzyme that catalyzes the cis -trans isomerization of unsaturated fatty acids to trigger a decrease in the fluidity of the membrane in order to rapidly counteract the danger. We particularly detailed the occurrence of such cis -trans isomerase in Nature, the different stresses that are at the origin of the double bond isomerization, the first steps in the elucidation of the mechanism of this peculiar metalloenzyme and some aspects of its regulation.

Automated summary

Bacteria have evolved various strategies to resist threats, one of which involves utilizing fatty acids to build membranes to combat environmental pressures. Specific enzymes can catalyze the isomerization of fatty acids to reduce membrane fluidity in response to danger.