title: Compatible solutes protect against chaotrope (ethanol)-induced, nonosmotic water stress.
abstract: Water stress is one of the major stresses experienced by cellular systems and can take a number of distinct forms. In response to turgor-related osmotic stress, cells produce compatible solutes that are macromolecule protectants and also counteract the outflow of water from stressed cells. In this report we show that the germination of conidia of Aspergillus nidulans, a sensitive indicator of water stress, in the presence of ethanol is correlated with the intracellular concentration of the compatible solutes glycerol and erythritol, which protect against both osmotic and nonturgor forms of water stress.
authors.affiliation: Department of Applied Microbial Technology, Sojo University, Kumamoto City, Japan. jehalls@essex.ac.uk
authors.forename: John E
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Hallsworth
authors.forename: Bernard A
authors.initials: BA
authors.lastname: Prior
authors.forename: Yoshiyuki
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Nomura
authors.forename: Masayoshi
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Iwahara
authors.forename: Kenneth N
authors.initials: KN
authors.lastname: Timmis
mesh_terms: D001233:Aspergillus nidulans / Q000737:chemistry / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology*; D004896:Erythritol / Q000032:analysis; D000431:Ethanol / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005990:Glycerol / Q000032:analysis; D008353:Mannitol / Q000032:analysis; D009994:Osmolar Concentration; D009997:Osmotic Pressure; D011108:Polymers / Q000032:analysis; D012965:Sodium Chloride / Q000494:pharmacology
chemical_list: D011108:Polymers; C024617:polyol; D000431:Ethanol; D008353:Mannitol; D012965:Sodium Chloride; D005990:Glycerol; D004896:Erythritol