title: Osmoregulation of the salt-tolerant yeast Debaryomyces hansenii grown in a chemostat at different salinities.
abstract: The intracellular solute composition of the salt-tolerant yeast Debaryomyces hansenii was studied in glucose-limited chemostat cultures at different concentrations of NaCl (4 mM, 0.68 M, and 1.35 M). A strong positive correlation between the total intracellular polyol concentration (glycerol and arabinitol) and medium salinity was demonstrated. The intracellular polyol concentration was sufficient to balance about 75% of the osmotic pressure of the medium in cultures with 0.68 and 1.35 M NaCl. The intracellular concentration of K+ and Na+, which at low external salinity gave a considerable contribution to the intracellular water potential, was only slightly enhanced with raised medium salinity. However, the ratio of intracellular K+ to Na+ decreased; but this decrease was less drastic in the cells than in the surrounding medium, i.e., the cells were able to select for K+ in favor of Na+. The turgor pressure, which was estimated on the basis of intracellular solute concentrations, was 2,200 kPa in cultures with 4 mM NaCl and decreased when the external salinity was raised, resulting in a value of about 500 kPa in cultures with 1.35 M NaCl. The maintenance of a positive turgor pressure at high salinity was mainly due to an increased production and accumulation of glycerol.
authors.affiliation: Department of Marine Microbiology, University of Göteborg, Sweden.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Larsson
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Morales
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Gustafsson
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Adler
mesh_terms: D005947:Glucose / Q000378:metabolism; D005990:Glycerol / Q000378:metabolism; D007700:Kinetics; D009994:Osmolar Concentration; D011188:Potassium / Q000378:metabolism; D012440:Saccharomyces / Q000254:growth & development*; D012492:Salts; D012964:Sodium / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D012492:Salts; D012964:Sodium; D005947:Glucose; D005990:Glycerol; D011188:Potassium