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Encyclopedia of Astrobiology pp 1Cite as

Osmolite

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Synonyms

Osmolyte

Definition

Osmolites or compatible solutes are organic molecules which are compatible with cell metabolism even at molar concentrations and play protective roles in adaptation to extreme environments. Microorganisms also accumulate organic solutes for osmotic adjustment. Thermophilic and hyperthermophilic organisms accumulate alcohol phosphates (e.g., inositol-phosphates) as compatible solutes for thermal stabilization, something which does not occur in bacteria or archaea that grow at low or moderate temperature. Osmolites or soluble compatibles can be classified into three groups: poly-alcohol molecules (e.g., manytol), quaternary ammines (e.g., glycine betaine), and amino acids (e.g., proline). Compatible solutes have been studied in vitro and have shown significant effects on biomolecules as stabilizers of native macromolecules (proteins or nucleic acid structures).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Centro de Astrobiología (CSIC/INTA), Instituto Nacional de Técnica Aeroespacial, Ctra de Torrejón a Ajalvir, km 4, 28850, Torrejón de Ardoz, Madrid, Spain

    Felipe Gomez

Authors
  1. Felipe Gomez
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Correspondence to Felipe Gomez .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Centro de Biología Molecular, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, Madrid, Spain

    Ricardo Amils

  2. Labo. d'Astrophysique de Bordeaux (LAB), Observatoire Aquitain des Sciences de l'Univers (OASU), Floirac CX, France

    Muriel Gargaud

  3. Centro de Astrobiología (CAB), Inst. Nacional de Técnica Aeroespacial, Torrejón de Ardoz, Madrid, Spain

    José Cernicharo Quintanilla

  4. Geophysical Lab., Carnegie Institution of Washington, Washington, District of Columbia, USA

    Henderson James Cleaves

  5. Astronomy Department, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, Massachusetts, USA

    William M. Irvine

  6. Dépt. Sc. de la Terre et de l’Atmosphère, Université du Québec, Montréal, Montreal, Québec, Canada

    Daniele Pinti

  7. Centre National d'Etudes Spatiale (CNES) DPI/E2U, Paris CX, France

    Michel Viso

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© 2014 Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg

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Gomez, F. (2014). Osmolite. In: Amils, R., et al. Encyclopedia of Astrobiology. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-27833-4_1204-2

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-27833-4_1204-2

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  • Publisher Name: Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-642-27833-4

  • eBook Packages: Springer Reference Physics and AstronomyReference Module Physical and Materials ScienceReference Module Chemistry, Materials and Physics

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