High-pressure tolerance in Halobacterium salinarum NRC-1 and other non-piezophilic prokaryotes

Extremophiles. 2012 Mar;16(2):355-61. doi: 10.1007/s00792-011-0418-8. Epub 2012 Jan 3.

Abstract

In this study, we examined the high-pressure survival of a range of prokaryotes not found in high-pressure environments to determine the effects of adaptations to osmotic and oxidative stresses on piezo-resistance. The pressure survivals of Halobacterium salinarum NRC-1, Deinococcus radiodurans R1, and Chromohalobacter salexigens were compared to that of Escherichia coli MG1655. C. salexigens, which uses the compatible solute ectoine as an osmolyte, was as piezo-sensitive as E. coli MG1655, suggesting that ectoine is not a piezolyte. D. radiodurans R1 and H. salinarum NRC-1, both resistant to oxidative stress, were found to be highly piezo-resistant. H. salinarum NRC-1 showed nearly full survival after pressurization up to 400 MPa; a survival 3.5 log units higher than E. coli MG1655. This piezo-resistance was maintained in H. salinarum NRC-1 for pressurizations up to 1 h. We hypothesize that the high-pressure resistance of H. salinarum NRC-1 is due to a combination of factors including cell envelope structure and the presence of intracellular salts.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Archaeal Proteins / metabolism
  • Cell Membrane / metabolism
  • Chromohalobacter / metabolism
  • Cold Temperature
  • Deinococcus / metabolism
  • Escherichia coli / metabolism
  • Halobacterium salinarum / metabolism*
  • Osmosis
  • Oxidative Stress
  • Pressure
  • Prokaryotic Cells / metabolism
  • Salts / chemistry

Substances

  • Archaeal Proteins
  • Salts