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Polyphosphate‐hydrolysis ‐ a protective mechanism against alkaline stress?
Author(s) -
Uri Pick,
Michal Bental,
Edith Chitlaru,
Martin Weiss
Publication year - 1990
Publication title -
febs letters
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.593
H-Index - 257
eISSN - 1873-3468
pISSN - 0014-5793
DOI - 10.1016/0014-5793(90)81318-i
Subject(s) - polyphosphate , hydrolysis , chemistry , yeast , biochemistry , cytoplasm , dunaliella salina , phosphate , algae , biology , ecology
Different microorganisms, including yeast and algae, accumulate large amounts of polyphosphates. However, the physiological role of polyphosphates is largely unknown. In vivo 31 P NMR studies, carried out in the unicellular alga, Dunaliella salina , demonstrate that cytoplasmic alkalization induces massive hydrolysis of polyphosphates, which is correlated kinetically with the recovery of cytoplasmic pH. Analysis of acid extracts of the cells indicates that long‐chain polyphosphates are hydrolysed mainly to tripolyphosphate. It is suggested that the hydrolysis of polyphosphates provides a pH‐stat mechanism to counterbalance alkaline stress.