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Osmoregulatory (Osm) Genes and Osmoprotective Compounds

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Genetic Engineering of Plants

Part of the book series: Basic Life Sciences ((BLSC,volume 26))

Abstract

A series of compounds, including glycine betaine and proline, known to accumulate in plants during osmotic stress, have been found to function as osmoprotective compounds for bacteria. In fulfilling “Koch’s Postulates” for the biological activity of these compounds, they have been found to protect against osmotic stress when added to the growth medium in relatively low concentration, or when synthesized in the cell. Cells may accumulate very high intracellular levels corresponding to the osmolarity of the medium using uptake systems that appear to be osmotically modulated. A proline overproducing mutation conferring osmotic tolerance has been constructed. Molecular cloning of an osmotic tolerance gene has been achieved. A unified concept of osmoregulation in microorganisms, animals and plants is discussed with some possible applications being pointed out.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Plant Growth Laboratory, University of California, Davis, California, 95616, USA

    M. W. Jakowec, R. C. Bunnell & R. C. Valentine

  2. Institute of Fisheries, University of Tromsø, N-9001, Tromsø, Norway

    A. R. Strøm

  3. Laboratoire de Physiologie Végétale, Univerité de Rennes I, 35042, Rennes Cedex, France

    D. LeRudulier

Authors
  1. A. R. Strøm
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  2. D. LeRudulier
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  3. M. W. Jakowec
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  4. R. C. Bunnell
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  5. R. C. Valentine
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Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. University of California, Davis, California, USA

    Tsune Kosuge  & Carole P. Meredith  & 

  2. Associated Universities, Inc., Washington, D.C., USA

    Alexander Hollaender

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© 1983 Plenum Press, New York

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Strøm, A.R., LeRudulier, D., Jakowec, M.W., Bunnell, R.C., Valentine, R.C. (1983). Osmoregulatory (Osm) Genes and Osmoprotective Compounds. In: Kosuge, T., Meredith, C.P., Hollaender, A., Wilson, C.M. (eds) Genetic Engineering of Plants. Basic Life Sciences, vol 26. Springer, Boston, MA. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4684-4544-2_6

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4684-4544-2_6

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Boston, MA

  • Print ISBN: 978-1-4684-4546-6

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-4684-4544-2

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