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Heterosides – compatible solutes occurring in prokaryotic and eukaryotic phototrophs
Author(s) -
Hagemann M.,
Pade N.
Publication year - 2015
Publication title -
plant biology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.871
H-Index - 87
eISSN - 1438-8677
pISSN - 1435-8603
DOI - 10.1111/plb.12350
Subject(s) - phototroph , biology , osmotic shock , osmoprotectant , algae , cyanobacteria , acclimatization , biochemistry , osmotic pressure , prokaryote , botany , amino acid , photosynthesis , bacteria , gene , genetics , proline
The acclimation to osmotic and/or salt stress conditions induces an integrated response at different cellular levels. One acclimation strategy relies on the massive accumulation of low molecular mass compounds, so‐called compatible solutes, to balance osmotic gradients and to directly protect critical macromolecules. Heterosides are compounds composed of a sugar and a polyol moiety that represent one chemical class of compatible solutes with interesting features. Well‐investigated examples are glucosylglycerol, which is found in many cyanobacteria, and galactosylglycerols (floridoside and isofloridoside), which are accumulated by eukaryotic algae under salt stress conditions. Here, we review knowledge on physiology, biochemistry and genetics of heteroside accumulation in pro‐ and eukaryotic photoautotrophic organisms.