title: Chloride dependence of growth in bacteria.
abstract: Chloride is an abundant anion on earth but studies analyzing a possible function of chloride in prokaryotes are scarce. To address the question, we have tested 44 different Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacteria for a chloride dependence or chloride stimulation of growth. None required chloride for growth at their optimal growth (salt) conditions. However, in hyperosmotic media containing high concentrations of Na+, 11 bacteria (Aeromonas hydrophila, Bacillus megaterium, Bacillus subtilis, Corynebacterium glutamicum, Escherichia coli, Paracoccus denitrificans, Proteus mirabilis, Proteus vulgaris, Staphylococcus aureus, Thermus thermophilus, and Vibrio fischeri) had a strict chloride dependence for growth or were significantly stimulated by chloride. These data show that chloride is essential for growth at high salt (Na+) concentrations in various species of the domain Bacteria.
authors.affiliation: Section Microbiology, Department Biology I, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, Maria-Ward-Str. 1a, 80686 Munich, Germany.
authors.forename: Markus
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Roessler
authors.forename: Xaver
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Sewald
authors.forename: Volker
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Müller
mesh_terms: D002712:Chlorides / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000494:pharmacology; D003470:Culture Media; D006090:Gram-Negative Bacteria / Q000187:drug effects / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism*; D006094:Gram-Positive Bacteria / Q000187:drug effects / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism*; D009994:Osmolar Concentration; D012964:Sodium / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology
chemical_list: D002712:Chlorides; D003470:Culture Media; D012964:Sodium