Differential regulation of Ota and Otb, two primary glycine betaine transporters in the methanogenic archaeon methanosarcina mazei Gö1.
Methanogenic archaea accumulate glycine betaine in response to hypersalinity, but the regulation of proteins involved, their mechanism of activation and regulation of the corresponding genes are largely unknown. Methanosarcina mazei differs from most other methanoarchaea in having two gene clusters both encoding a potential glycine betaine transporter, Ota and Otb. Western blot as well as quantitative real-time PCR revealed that Otb is not regulated by osmolarity. On the other hand, cellular levels of Ota increased with increasing salt concentrations. A maximum was reached at 300-500 mM NaCl. Ota concentrations reached a maximum 4 h after an osmotic upshock. Hyperosmolarity also caused an increase in cellular Ota concentrations. In addition to osmolarity Ota expression was regulated by the growth phase. Expression of Ota as well as transport of betaine was downregulated in the presence of glycine betaine.
Spanheimer
R
R
Molecular Microbiology and Bioenergetics, Institute of Molecular Biosciences, Johann Wolfgang Goethe University Frankfurt, Frankfurt am Main, Germany.
Hoffmann
M
M
Kögl
S
S
Schmidt
S
S
Pflüger
K
K
Müller
V
V
D019843:Archaeal Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D001622:Betaine / Q000378:metabolism*; D002352:Carrier Proteins / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D050485:GABA Plasma Membrane Transport Proteins; D019848:Gene Expression Regulation, Archaeal; D019766:Genes, Archaeal; D017020:Methanosarcina / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D005810:Multigene Family; D019642:RNA, Archaeal / Q000235:genetics; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D054712:Salinity; D012965:Sodium Chloride / Q000494:pharmacology
D019843:Archaeal Proteins; D002352:Carrier Proteins; D050485:GABA Plasma Membrane Transport Proteins; D019642:RNA, Archaeal; C072207:betaine plasma membrane transport proteins; D001622:Betaine; D012965:Sodium Chloride