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Osmoregulation and osmosensing by uptake carriers for compatible solutes in bacteria

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Molecular Mechanisms Controlling Transmembrane Transport

Part of the book series: Topics in Current Genetics ((TCG,volume 9))

Abstract

In order to circumvent deleterious effects of hypo- and hyperosmotic conditions in their environment, bacterial cells have developed a number of mechanisms to counteract osmotic stress. The first response to an osmotic upshift is the activation of uptake systems for so-called compatible solutes, e.g. betaine, proline, or ectoine. Compatible solutes are taken up at the expense of metabolic energy and accumulated in the cytoplasm until osmotic compensation is reached. These uptake systems respond to osmotic stress by regulation at the level of both protein activity and gene expression. Activity regulation of uptake systems includes elaborate signal transduction mechanisms, involving sensing of appropriate stimuli and signal transduction to the catalytic (transport) domains of the carrier protein. Mechanisms of osmosensing and osmoregulation will be discussed mainly for BetP, the betaine uptake carrier of Corynebacterium glutamicum, as well as for ProP from Escherichia coli, OpuA from Lactococcus lactis, and a few other examples.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute of Biochemistry, Universität Köln, Zülpicher Str. 47, 50674 Köln, Germany

    Susanne Morbach & Reinhard Krämer

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  1. Susanne Morbach
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  2. Reinhard Krämer
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Correspondence to Susanne Morbach .

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Morbach, S., Krämer, R. (2004). Osmoregulation and osmosensing by uptake carriers for compatible solutes in bacteria. In: Molecular Mechanisms Controlling Transmembrane Transport. Topics in Current Genetics, vol 9. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/b95846

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/b95846

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  • Print ISBN: 978-3-540-21837-1

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-540-40912-0

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