An osmoregulated dipeptide in stressed Rhizobium meliloti. |
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| Authors: | L T Smith and G M Smith |
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| Affiliation: | Plant Growth Laboratory, University of California, Davis 95616. |
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| Abstract: | One common mechanism of cellular adaptation to osmotic stress is the accumulation of organic solutes in the cytosol. We have used natural-abundance 13C nuclear magnetic resonance to identify all organic solutes that accumulate to significant levels in Rhizobium meliloti. Our studies led to the discovery of a new dipeptide, N-acetylglutaminylglutamine amide (NAGGN), which is accumulated during osmotic stress. Only rarely have peptides been shown to function in bacteria, and furthermore, this is the first example of a peptide playing a role in osmoregulation. Evidence for the biological role of NAGGN in osmotic-stress protection is presented. |
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