5 The compatible solute ectoine: protection mechanisms, strain development, and industrial production
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Hans Jörg Kunte
Abstract
Bacteria, Archaea, and Eukarya can adapt to saline environments by accumulating compatible solutes in order to maintain an osmotic equilibrium. Compatible solutes are of diverse chemical structure (sugars, polyols, amino acid derivatives) and are beneficial for bacterial cells not only as osmoregulatory solutes but also as protectants of proteins by mitigating detrimental effects of freezing, drying, and high temperatures. The aspartate derivative ectoine is a widespread compatible solute in Bacteria and possesses additional protective properties compared with other compatible solutes and stabilizes even whole cells against stresses such as ultraviolet radiation or cytotoxins. Here, it is our intention to go beyond a simple description of effects, but to depict the molecular interaction of ectoine with biomolecules, such as proteins, membranes, and DNA and explain the underlying principles. The stabilizing properties of ectoine attracted industry, which saw the potential to market ectoine as a novel active component in health care products and cosmetics. In joint efforts of industry and research, a large-scale fermentation procedure has been developed with the halophilic bacterium Halomonas elongata used as a producer strain. The development and application of ectoine-excreting mutants from H. elongata (“leaky” mutants) allow for the annual production of ectoine on a scale of tons. The details of the strain development and fermentation processes will be introduced.
Abstract
Bacteria, Archaea, and Eukarya can adapt to saline environments by accumulating compatible solutes in order to maintain an osmotic equilibrium. Compatible solutes are of diverse chemical structure (sugars, polyols, amino acid derivatives) and are beneficial for bacterial cells not only as osmoregulatory solutes but also as protectants of proteins by mitigating detrimental effects of freezing, drying, and high temperatures. The aspartate derivative ectoine is a widespread compatible solute in Bacteria and possesses additional protective properties compared with other compatible solutes and stabilizes even whole cells against stresses such as ultraviolet radiation or cytotoxins. Here, it is our intention to go beyond a simple description of effects, but to depict the molecular interaction of ectoine with biomolecules, such as proteins, membranes, and DNA and explain the underlying principles. The stabilizing properties of ectoine attracted industry, which saw the potential to market ectoine as a novel active component in health care products and cosmetics. In joint efforts of industry and research, a large-scale fermentation procedure has been developed with the halophilic bacterium Halomonas elongata used as a producer strain. The development and application of ectoine-excreting mutants from H. elongata (“leaky” mutants) allow for the annual production of ectoine on a scale of tons. The details of the strain development and fermentation processes will be introduced.
Kapitel in diesem Buch
- Frontmatter i
- Preface v
- Contents ix
- Contributing authors xvii
- 1 Extremophiles: a promising source of novel natural products 1
- 2 The extremophilic pharmacy: drug discovery at the limits of life 43
- 3 Metabolic engineering of thermophilic bacteria for production of biotechnologically interesting compounds 73
- 4 Extremozymes: from discovery to novel bio-products 97
- 5 The compatible solute ectoine: protection mechanisms, strain development, and industrial production 121
- 6 Thermophilic photosynthesis-based microbial communities – energy production and conversion 153
- 7 Photosynthesis at high latitudes – adaptation of photosynthetic microorganisms to Nordic climates 165
- 8 Roles of extremophiles in the bioremediation of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon contaminated soil environment 197
- 9 Bioremediative potential of bacteria in cold desert environments 231
- 10 Subsurface extremophiles and nuclear waste storage 243
- 11 Metal bioleaching: fundamentals and geobiotechnical application of aerobic and anaerobic acidophiles 261
- 12 Cyanobacterium-based technologies in space and on Earth 289
- 13 The biotechnological potential of yeast under extreme conditions 313
- 14 Biotechnological potential of tardigrades 357
- Index 391
Kapitel in diesem Buch
- Frontmatter i
- Preface v
- Contents ix
- Contributing authors xvii
- 1 Extremophiles: a promising source of novel natural products 1
- 2 The extremophilic pharmacy: drug discovery at the limits of life 43
- 3 Metabolic engineering of thermophilic bacteria for production of biotechnologically interesting compounds 73
- 4 Extremozymes: from discovery to novel bio-products 97
- 5 The compatible solute ectoine: protection mechanisms, strain development, and industrial production 121
- 6 Thermophilic photosynthesis-based microbial communities – energy production and conversion 153
- 7 Photosynthesis at high latitudes – adaptation of photosynthetic microorganisms to Nordic climates 165
- 8 Roles of extremophiles in the bioremediation of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon contaminated soil environment 197
- 9 Bioremediative potential of bacteria in cold desert environments 231
- 10 Subsurface extremophiles and nuclear waste storage 243
- 11 Metal bioleaching: fundamentals and geobiotechnical application of aerobic and anaerobic acidophiles 261
- 12 Cyanobacterium-based technologies in space and on Earth 289
- 13 The biotechnological potential of yeast under extreme conditions 313
- 14 Biotechnological potential of tardigrades 357
- Index 391
