Open AccessOsmoregulation and compatible solutes in eubacteria *
Author(s) -
Imhoff Johannes F.
Publication year - 1986
Publication title -
fems microbiology letters
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.899
H-Index - 151
eISSN - 1574-6968
pISSN - 0378-1097
DOI - 10.1111/j.1574-6968.1986.tb01843.x
Subject(s) - halotolerance , betaine , halophile , osmoprotectant , ectoine , osmoregulation , organism , biochemistry , glycine , proline , bacteria , biology , bacillaceae , chemistry , amino acid , genetics , bacillus subtilis , salinity , ecology
Osmotic adaption by halophilic and halotolerant bacteria is generally achieved by the accumulation or synthesis of several organic solutes. Accumulation by uptake from the medium is preferred over biosynthesis. The chemical nature of the major solute is important in determining the degree of osmotolerance of the organism. Glycine betaine accumulation confers a greater degree of osmotolerance than proline, which in turn confers more osmotolerance than glutamate accumulation. The occurrence and uptake of these solutes in a variety of eubacteria is reviewed.