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Dealing with salinity extremes and nitrogen limitation – an unexpected strategy of the marine bacterium Dinoroseobacter shibae
Author(s) -
Kleist Sarah,
Ulbrich Marcus,
Bill Nelli,
SchmidtHohagen Kerstin,
Geffers Robert,
Schomburg Dietmar
Publication year - 2017
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 - 10.1111/1462-2920.13266
Subject(s) - biology , salinity , bacteria , marine bacteriophage , ecology , oceanography , genetics , geology
Summary Having the right coping strategy for changes in osmolarity or desiccation is essential for the survival of every cell. So far, nothing is known about compatible solutes and the salt adaptation of the marine Rhodobacteraceae . The family member Dinoroseobacter shibae DFL12 T is shown here to form the compatible solutes α‐glucosylglycerol (GG) and α‐glucosylglycerate (GGA). To our knowledge, this is the first experimental evidence for GGA formation within the α‐proteobacteria. Together with glutamate and putrescine, these substances enable good growth in salinity ranging from 0.3% to 5%. A salinity of 5% leads to a biomass share of 7.6% of compatible solutes and the very low salt level of 0.3% results in an 18‐fold increased putrescine concentration compared with environmental conditions. Additionally, the substitution of glutamate by GGA has been shown during exposure to nitrogen limitation and in the stationary growth phase of the organism. Salt shock transcriptome analysis of D. shibae has revealed the essential role of its 153 kb chromid, which carries the genes for GG biosynthesis and several transport and exchange systems. Within the family of Rhodobacteraceae , the genomic capability of forming GG and GGA is strictly restricted to marine family members.