We have investigated the effect of overproducing each of the three cold shock proteins (CspL, CspP, and CspC) in the mesophilic lactic acid bacterium Lactobacillus plantarum NC8. CspL overproduction transiently alleviated the reduction in growth rate triggered by exposing exponentially growing cells to cold shock (8 degrees C), suggesting that CspL is involved in cold adaptation. The strain overproducing CspC resumed growth more rapidly when stationary-phase cultures were diluted into fresh medium, indicating a role in the adaptation and recovery of nutritionally deprived cells. Overproduction of CspP led to an enhanced capacity to survive freezing.