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Compatible solutes of organisms that live in hot saline environments
Author(s) -
Santos Helena,
Da Costa Milton S.
Publication year - 2002
Publication title -
environmental microbiology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.954
H-Index - 188
eISSN - 1462-2920
pISSN - 1462-2912
DOI - 10.1046/j.1462-2920.2002.00335.x
Subject(s) - thermophile , biology , archaea , hyperthermophile , osmoprotectant , biochemistry , phosphate , glycerol , mesophile , denaturation (fissile materials) , microorganism , enzyme , bacteria , amino acid , chemistry , genetics , proline , nuclear chemistry , gene
Summary The accumulation of organic solutes is a prerequisite for osmotic adjustment of all microorganisms. Thermophilic and hyperthermophilic organisms generally accumulate very unusual compatible solutes namely, di‐ myo ‐inositol‐phosphate, di‐mannosyl‐di‐ myo ‐inositol‐phosphate, di‐glycerol‐phosphate, mannosylglycerate and mannosylglyceramide, which have not been identified in bacteria or archaea that grow at low and moderate temperatures. There is also a growing awareness that some of these compatible solutes may have a role in the protection of cell components against thermal denaturation. Mannosylglycerate and di‐glycerol‐phosphate have been shown to protect enzymes and proteins from thermal denaturation in vitro as well, or better, than compatible solutes from mesophiles. The pathways leading to the synthesis of some of these compatible solutes from thermophiles and hyperthermophiles have been elucidated. However, large numbers of questions remain unanswered. Fundamental and applied interest in compatible solutes and osmotic adjustment in these organisms, drives research that, will, in the near future, allow us to understand the role of compatible solutes in osmotic protection and thermoprotection of some of the most fascinating organisms known on Earth.