Mechanosensitive channel functions to alleviate the cell lysis of marine bacterium, Vibrio alginolyticus, by osmotic downshock.
The mechanosensitive channel with large conductance of Escherichia coli is the first to be cloned among stretch-activated channels. Although its activity was characterized by a patch clamp method, a physiological role of the channel has not been proved. The marine bacterium, Vibrio alginolyticus, is sensitive to osmotic stress and cell lysis occurs under osmotic downshock. We introduced an mscL gene into Vibrio alginolyticus, and the mechanosensitive channel with large conductance functions was found to alleviate cell lysis by osmotic downshock. This is the first report to show a physiological role of the mechanosensitive channel with large conductance.
Laboratory of Membrane Biochemistry, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Chiba University, Japan.
Y
Y
Nakamaru
Y
Y
Takahashi
T
T
Unemoto
T
T
Nakamura
D001426:Bacterial Proteins / Q000235:genetics; D004926:Escherichia coli / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D029968:Escherichia coli Proteins; D007473:Ion Channels / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology; D009997:Osmotic Pressure; D011189:Potassium Chloride / Q000494:pharmacology; D012965:Sodium Chloride / Q000494:pharmacology; D013104:Spheroplasts / Q000378:metabolism; D013314:Stress, Mechanical; D014733:Vibrio / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*
D001426:Bacterial Proteins; D029968:Escherichia coli Proteins; D007473:Ion Channels; C086596:MscL protein, E coli; D012965:Sodium Chloride; D011189:Potassium Chloride