Modification of cellular FA (CFA) metabolism was another core response of L. plantarum to ethanol. Overall, the transcript profiles suggest that a reduction in FA biosynthesis led to changes in the composition of the cell membrane. Exponential-phase L. plantarum cells collected after growth in ethanol-containing MRS harbored reduced levels of C18:1; increased levels of palmitic acid, stearic acid, and C18:3; and an overall decrease in USFA/SFA ratios compared to cells grown in MRS. These membrane modifications resemble those observed in O. oeni ATCC BAA-1163 grown under similar conditions (24).