COMPATIBLE SOLUTES IN THE THERMOPHILIC BACTERIA RHODOTHERMUS-MARINUS AND THERMUS-THERMOPHILUS

• Type: Article in International Scientific Journal
• Date: 1995

Authors

NUNES, OC (Author) FEUP; MANAIA, CM (Author) Other; DACOSTA, MS (Author) Other; SANTOS, H (Author) Other

Journal

Title: Applied and Environmental Microbiology

Vol. 61 No. 6

Pages: 2351-2357

ISSN: 0099-2240

Publisher: American Society for Microbiology

Indexing

ISI Web of Knowledge - 62 Citations

ISI Web of Science

Scopus - 62 Citations

Scientific classification

FOS: Natural sciences > Biological sciences

CORDIS: Technological sciences > Engineering > Chemical engineering

Other information

Authenticus ID: P-001-GRY

Abstract (EN): C-13 nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy and H-1 nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy were used to identify and quantify the organic solutes of several strains of halophilic or halotolerant thermophilic bacteria. Two strains of Rhodothermus marinus and four strains of ''Thermus thermophilus'' grown in complex medium containing NaCl were examined. 2-O-Mannosylglycerate was a major compatible solute in all strains: the Thermus strains accumulated the beta-anomer only, whereas both anomers were found in R. marinus. 2-O-beta-mannosylglycerate and 2-O-alpha-mannosylglycerate were the major compatible solutes in R. marinus. The former was the predominant solute in cells grown in 2.0 and 4.0% NaCl-containing medium, while the latter was the predominant compatible solute at higher salinities. Glutamate, trehalose, and glucose were also present as minor components. The intracellular K+ concentration, as determined by K-39 nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy, in R. marinus increased with salinity and was sufficient to balance the negative charges of the mannosylglycerate. In addition to 2-O-beta-mannosylglycerate, trehalose was a major compatible solute of ''T. thermophilus.'' 2-O-beta-Mannosylglycerate was the main solute in medium containing 1.0 or 2.0% NaCl, while trehalose predominated in cells grown in medium supplemented with 3.0 or 4.0% NaCI. Glycine betaine, in lower concentrations, was also detected in two ''T. thermophilus'' strains. This is the first report of mannosylglycerate as a compatible solute in bacteria.

Language: English

Type (Professor's evaluation): Scientific

No. of pages: 7