Identification and regulation of novel compatible solutes from hypersaline stromatolite-associated cyanobacteria |
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Authors: | Falicia Goh Kevin D Barrow Brendan P Burns Brett A Neilan |
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Institution: | (1) School of Biotechnology and Biomolecular Sciences, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW, 2052, Australia;(2) Australian Centre for Astrobiology, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW, 2052, Australia;(3) Present address: Systems Biology, Genome Institute of Singapore, 60 Biopolis St, Singapore, 138672, Singapore |
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Abstract: | Cyanobacteria are able to survive in various extreme environments via the production of organic compounds known as compatible
solutes. In particular, cyanobacteria are capable of inhabiting hypersaline environments such as those found in intertidal
regions. Cyanobacteria in these environments must possess regulatory mechanisms for surviving the changing osmotic pressure
as a result of desiccation, rainfall and tidal fluxes. The objective of this study was to determine the compatible solutes
that are accumulated by cyanobacteria from hypersaline regions, and specifically, the stromatolite ecosystems of Shark Bay,
Western Australia. Previously, the cyanobacterial populations associated with these stromatolites were characterized in two
separate studies. Compatible solutes were extracted from isolated cyanobacteria here and identified by nuclear magnetic resonance.
As the media of isolation contained no complex carbon source, the solutes accumulated were likely synthesized by the cyanobacteria.
The data indicate that from this one habitat taxonomically distinct cyanobacteria exposed to varying salinities accumulate
a range of known compatible solutes. In addition, taxonomically similar cyanobacteria do not necessarily accumulate the same
compatible solutes. Glucosylglycerol, a compatible solute unique to marine cyanobacteria was not detected; however, various
saccharides, glycine betaine, and trimethylamine-N-oxide were identified as the predominant solutes. We conclude that the cyanobacterial communities from these hypersaline
stromatolites are likely to possess more complex mechanisms of adaptation to osmotic stress than previously thought. The characterization
of osmoregulatory properties of stromatolite microorganisms provides further insight into how life can thrive in such extreme
environments. |
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