Synthesis of glycine betaine from exogenous choline in the moderately halophilic bacterium halomonas elongata
The role of choline in osmoprotection in the moderate halophile Halomonas elongata has been examined. Transport and conversion of choline to betaine began immediately after addition of choline to the growth medium. Intracellular accumulation of betaine synthesized from choline was salt dependent up to 2.5 M NaCl. Oxidation of choline was enhanced at 2.0 M NaCl in the presence or absence of externally provided betaine. This indicates that the NaCl concentration in the growth medium has major effects on the choline-betaine pathway of H. elongata.
Department of Microbiology and Parasitology, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Seville, 41012 Seville, Spain.
D
Canovas
C
Vargas
LN
Csonka
A
Ventosa
JJ
Nieto