Glycine betaine reverses the effects of osmotic stress on DNA replication and cellular division in Escherichia coli

The accumulation of glycine betaine to a high internal concentration by Escherichia coli cells in high osmolarity medium restores, within 1 h, a subnormal growth rate. The experimental results support the view that cell adaptation to high osmolarity involves a decrease in the initiation frequency of...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Archives of microbiology 1988, Vol.149 (3), p.232-239
Main Author: MEURY, J
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Action of physical and chemical agents on bacteria
Bacterial Proteins - biosynthesis
Bacteriology
Betaine - metabolism
Biological and medical sciences
Cell Division
DNA Replication
DNA, Bacterial - biosynthesis
Escherichia coli
Escherichia coli - cytology
Escherichia coli - genetics
Escherichia coli - growth & development
Escherichia coli - metabolism
Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology
Microbiology
Mutation
Osmolar Concentration
Osmotic Pressure
Potassium - metabolism
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Summary:The accumulation of glycine betaine to a high internal concentration by Escherichia coli cells in high osmolarity medium restores, within 1 h, a subnormal growth rate. The experimental results support the view that cell adaptation to high osmolarity involves a decrease in the initiation frequency of DNA replication via a stringent response; in contrast, glycine betaine transport and accumulation could suppress the stringent response within 1-2 min and restore a higher initiation frequency. High osmolarity also triggers the cells to lengthen, perhaps via an inhibition of cellular division; glycine betaine also reverses this process. It is inferred that turgor could control DNA replication and cell division in two separate ways. Glycine betaine action is not mediated by K+ ions as the internal level of K+ ions is not modified significantly following glycine betaine accumulation.
ISSN:0302-8933
1432-072X
DOI:10.1007/bf00422010