Osmoprotective activity, urea protection, and accumulation of hydrophilic betaines in Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus

• Published in: Antonie van Leeuwenhoek Vol. 75; no. 3; pp. 183 - 189
• Main Authors: PEDDIE, B. A, LEVER, M, RANDALL, K, CHAMBERS, S. T
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Dordrecht Springer 01.04.1999; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Action of physical and chemical agents on bacteria; Bacteria; Bacteriology; betaine; Betaine - metabolism; Betaine - pharmacology; Biological and medical sciences; citrulline betaine; deanol betaine; diethanolthetin; E coli; Escherichia coli; Escherichia coli - drug effects; Escherichia coli - metabolism; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; methylethanolthetin; Microbiology; Osmolar Concentration; osmoprotection; Sodium Chloride - metabolism; Staphylococcus aureus; Staphylococcus aureus - drug effects; Staphylococcus aureus - metabolism; thioxanium betaine; triethanol betaine; Urea; Urea - metabolism; Escherichia coli; Osmoregulation; Citrulline; Glycine; Salinity; Resistance; Osmotic shock; Urea; Betaine; Bacteria; Micrococcales; Micrococcaceae; Hydrophilic compound; Intracellular; Staphylococcus aureus; Enterobacteriaceae
• ISSN: 0003-6072; 1572-9699
• DOI: 10.1023/A:1001701400801

The hydrophilic betaines, deanol betaine, triethanol betaine, diethanolthetin and methylethanolthetin, and also thioxanium betaine and citrulline betaine, were accumulated by Escherichia coli. All betaines tested had significant osmoprotective activity for E. coli and, with the exception of citrulline betaine and diethanolthetin, also demonstrated urea protection. Staphylococcus aureus accumulated only methylethanolthetin, deanol betaine and thioxanium betaine: the first two had an osmoprotective effect but conferred no urea protection. Diethanolthetin and thioxanium betaine significantly decreased urea tolerance for S. aureus.