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Dimethylsulfoniopropionate Production in Phototrophic Organisms and its Physiological Functions as a Cryoprotectant

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Biological and Environmental Chemistry of DMSP and Related Sulfonium Compounds

Summary

Dimethylsulfoniopropionate (DMSP) was detected in many strains of prototrophic bacteria and cyanobacteria. These data, together with results from earlier studies and the literature, clearly indicate that mainly photosynthetic micro- and macroorganisms have the metabolic capability to synthesize this compound. A relationship with temperature has also been identified. Polar macroalgae contain significantly higher DMSP contents compared to temperate or tropical species (5, 17). In this study, the cryoprotective function of DMSP was investigated on the activity of the model enzyme lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) as well as on that of malate dehydrogenase (MDH), extracted from the polar alga Acrosiphonia arcta (Chlorophyta). LDH activity was stabilized during freezing and thawing by the presence of DMSP concentrations up to 230 mM. The addition of higher amounts of DMSP to the enzyme assay even led to a 1.5 fold stimulation in the activity. DMSP stabilized MDH activity at the extremely low temperature of -2°C. In the presence of high solute concentrations, up to 300 mM, the enzyme activity rose to 165% of the control.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Max-Planck Institute for Marine Microbiology, Fahrenheitstrasse 1, D-28359, Bremen, Germany

    U. Karsten

  2. FB 2, Marine Botany, University of Bremen, D-28334, Bremen, Germany

    K. Kück & G. O. Kirst

  3. FB 2, Marine Microbiology, University of Bremen, D-28334, Bremen, Germany

    C. Vogt

  4. School of Biological Science, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW, 2052, Australia

    U. Karsten

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  1. U. Karsten
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  4. G. O. Kirst
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Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. University of South Alabama, Mobile, Alabama, USA

    Ronald P. Kiene

  2. University of Connecticut, Groton, Connecticut, USA

    Pieter T. Visscher

  3. Bigelow Laboratory for Ocean Sciences, West Boothbay Harbor, Maine, USA

    Maureen D. Keller

  4. University of Bremen, Bremen, Germany

    Gunter O. Kirst

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© 1996 Plenum Press, New York

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Karsten, U., Kück, K., Vogt, C., Kirst, G.O. (1996). Dimethylsulfoniopropionate Production in Phototrophic Organisms and its Physiological Functions as a Cryoprotectant. In: Kiene, R.P., Visscher, P.T., Keller, M.D., Kirst, G.O. (eds) Biological and Environmental Chemistry of DMSP and Related Sulfonium Compounds. Springer, Boston, MA. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4613-0377-0_13

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4613-0377-0_13

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Boston, MA

  • Print ISBN: 978-0-306-45306-9

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-4613-0377-0

  • eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive

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