Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Proline over-production results in enhanced osmotolerance in Salmonella typhimurium

  • Published:
Molecular and General Genetics MGG Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Summary

Mutants of S. typhimurium with enhanced osmotolerance were isolated. These mutants were obtained as strains which over-produced proline due to regulatory mutations affecting proline biosynthesis. The mutations are located on F′proBA and upon transfer to other S. typhimurium strains, they confer enhanced osmotolerance on the recipients. The osmotolerant mutants not only have higher intracellular proline levels than the osmosensitive parental strain, but the proline levels in the osmotolerant mutants are regulated such that they increase in response to osmotic stress. Possible reasons why elevated proline levels lead to enhanced osmotolerance are discussed.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Britten RJ, McClure FT (1962) The amino acid pool in Escherichia coli. Bacteriol Rev 26:292–335

    Google Scholar 

  • Brown CM, Stanley SO (1972) Environment-mediated changes in the cellular content of the “pool” contituents and their associated changes in cell physiology. J Appl Chem Biotechnol 22:363–389

    Google Scholar 

  • Brown LM, Hellebust JA (1978) Sorbitol and proline as intracellular osmotic solutes in the green alga Stichococcus bacilliaris. Can J Bot 56:676–679

    Google Scholar 

  • Cavalieri AJ, Huang AHC (1979) Evaluation of proline accumulation in the adaption of diverse species of marsh halophytes to saline environment. Am J Bot 66:307–312

    Google Scholar 

  • Christian JHB (1955a) The influence of nutrition on the water relations of Salmonella orianenburg. Aust J Biol Sci 8:75–82

    Google Scholar 

  • Christian JHB (1955b) The water relations of growth and respiration of Salmonella orianenburg at 30°. Aust J Biol Sci 8:490–497

    Google Scholar 

  • Christian JHB, Waltho JA (1961) The sodium and potassium content of non-halophilic bacteria in relationship to salt tolerance. J Gen Microbiol 25:97–102

    Google Scholar 

  • Cohen GN, Rickenberg HV (1956) Concentration specifique reversible des amino acides chez E. coli. Ann Inst Pasteur Paris 91:693–720

    Google Scholar 

  • Condamine H (1971) Sur la régulation de la production de proline chez E. coli. Ann Inst Pasteur Paris 120:126–142

    Google Scholar 

  • Epstein W, Schultz SG (1965) Cation transport in Escherichia coli. V. Regulation of cation content. J Gen Physiol 49:221–234

    Google Scholar 

  • Filutowicz M, Ciésla Z, Klopotowski T (1979) Interference of azide with cysteine biosynthesis in Salmonella typhimurium. J Gen Microbiol 113:45–55

    Google Scholar 

  • Flowers TJ, Troke PF, Yeo AR (1977) The mechanism of salt tolerance in halophites. Ann Rev Plant Physiol 28: 89–121

    Google Scholar 

  • Hellebust JA (1976) Osmoregulation. Ann Rev Plant Physiol 27:485–505

    Google Scholar 

  • Hoppe I, Johnston HM, Biek D, Roth JR (1979) A refined map of the hisG gene of Salmonella typhimurium. Genetics 92:17–26

    Google Scholar 

  • Kayama Y, Kawasaki T (1976) Stimulatory effect of lithium ion on proline transport by whole cells of Escherichia coli. J Bacteriol 128:157–164

    Google Scholar 

  • Lowry OH, Reosebrough N, Farr AL, Randall R (1951) Protein measurement with the Folin phenol reagent. J Biol Chem 193:265–275

    Google Scholar 

  • Makemson JC, Hastings JW (1979) Glutamate functions in osmoregulation in a marine bacterium. Appl Env Microbiol 38:178–180

    Google Scholar 

  • Measures JC (1975) Role of amino acids in osmoregulation of nonhalophylic bacteria. Nature 257:398–400

    Google Scholar 

  • Munro GF, Hercules K, Morgan J, Sauerbier W (1972) Dependence of the putrescine content of Escherichia coli on the osmotic strength of the medium. J Biol Chem 247:1272–1280

    Google Scholar 

  • Pulman D, Johnson B, (1978) Amino acid pools in members of the genus Erwinia grown in continuous culture. J Gen Microbiol 108:349–353

    Google Scholar 

  • Ratzkin B, Grabnar M, Roth J (1978) Regulation of the major proline permease gene of Salmonella typhimurium. J Bacteriol 133:737–743

    Google Scholar 

  • Sanderson KE, Hartman PE (1978) Linkage map of Salmonella typhimurium. Editon V. Microbiol Rev 42:471–519

    Google Scholar 

  • Schobert B (1977a) The influence of water stress on the metabolism of diatoms. II. Proline accumulation under different conditions of stress and light. Z Pflanzenphysiol 85:451–461

    Google Scholar 

  • Schobert B (1977b) Is there an osmotic regulatory mechanism in algae and higher plants? J Theor Biol 68:17–26

    Google Scholar 

  • Schobert B, Tschesche H (1978) Unusual properties of proline and its interactions with proteins. Biochem Biophys Acta 541:270–277

    Google Scholar 

  • Stewart GR, Lee JA (1974) The role of proline accumulation in halophytes. Planta 120:279–289

    Google Scholar 

  • Tempest DW, Meers JL, Brown CM (1970) Influence of environment on the content and composition of microbial free amino acid pools. J Gen Microbiol 64:171–185

    Google Scholar 

  • Tully RE, Hanson AD, Nelsen CE (1979) Proline accumulation in water-stressed barley leaves in relation to translocation and the nitrogen budget. Plant Physiol 63:518–523

    Google Scholar 

  • Wyn Jones RG (1980) An assessment of quaternary ammonium and related compounds as osmotic affectors. In: Rains DW, Valentine RC, Hollaender A (eds) Genetic Engineering of Osmoregulation. Plenum Press, New York London, pp 155–170

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

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

    László N. Csonka

  2. Department of Agronomy and Range Science, University of California, 95616, Davis, Ca., USA

    László N. Csonka

Authors
  1. László N. Csonka
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Additional information

Communicated by M.M. Green

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Csonka, L.N. Proline over-production results in enhanced osmotolerance in Salmonella typhimurium . Molec. Gen. Genet. 182, 82–86 (1981). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00422771

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00422771

Keywords

Search

Navigation