This Article Full Text (PDF) Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Copyright Information Books from ASM Press MicrobeWorld Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Molenaar, D Articles by Konings, W N Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Molenaar, D Articles by Konings, W N

research-article

Characteristics and osmoregulatory roles of uptake systems for proline and glycine betaine in Lactococcus lactis.

Department of Microbiology, University of Groningen, Haren, The Netherlands.

ABSTRACT

Lactococcus lactis subsp. lactis ML3 contains high pools of proline or betaine when grown under conditions of high osmotic strength. These pools are created by specific transport systems. A high-affinity uptake system for glycine betaine (betaine) with a Km of 1.5 microM is expressed constitutively. The activity of this system is not stimulated by high osmolarities of the growth or assay medium but varies strongly with the medium pH. A low-affinity proline uptake system (Km, > 5 mM) is expressed at high levels only in chemically defined medium (CDM) with high osmolarity. This transport system is also stimulated by high osmolarity. The expression of this proline uptake system is repressed in rich broth with low or high osmolarity and in CDM with low osmolarity. The accumulated proline can be exchanged for betaine. Proline uptake is also effectively inhibited by betaine (Ki of between 50 and 100 microM). The proline transport system therefore probably also transports betaine. The inhibition of proline transport by betaine results in low proline pools in cells grown in high-osmotic-strength, betaine-containing CDM. The energy and pH dependency and the influence of ionophores on the activity of both transport systems suggest that these systems are not proton motive force driven. At low osmolarities, proline uptake is low but significant. This low proline uptake is also inhibited by betaine, although to a lesser extent than in cells grown in high-osmotic-strength CDM. These data indicate that proline uptake in L. lactis is enzyme mediated and is not dependent on passive diffusion, as was previously believed.

This article has been cited by other articles:

• Duurkens, R. H., Tol, M. B., Geertsma, E. R., Permentier, H. P., Slotboom, D. J. (2007). Flavin Binding to the High Affinity Riboflavin Transporter RibU. J. Biol. Chem. 282: 10380-10386 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
• Molina-Hoppner, A., Doster, W., Vogel, R. F., Ganzle, M. G. (2004). Protective Effect of Sucrose and Sodium Chloride for Lactococcus lactis during Sublethal and Lethal High-Pressure Treatments. Appl. Environ. Microbiol. 70: 2013-2020 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
• Sleator, R. D., Gahan, C. G. M., Hill, C. (2001). Identification and Disruption of the proBA Locus in Listeria monocytogenes: Role of Proline Biosynthesis in Salt Tolerance and Murine Infection. Appl. Environ. Microbiol. 67: 2571-2577 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
• Becker, L. A., Evans, S. N., Hutkins, R. W., Benson, A. K. (2000). Role of sigma B in Adaptation of Listeria monocytogenes to Growth at Low Temperature. J. Bacteriol. 182: 7083-7087 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
• Chervaux, C., Ehrlich, S. D., Maguin, E. (2000). Physiological Study of Lactobacillus delbrueckii subsp. bulgaricus Strains in a Novel Chemically Defined Medium. Appl. Environ. Microbiol. 66: 5306-5311 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
• Lai, M.-C., Hong, T.-Y., Gunsalus, R. P. (2000). Glycine Betaine Transport in the Obligate Halophilic Archaeon Methanohalophilus portucalensis. J. Bacteriol. 182: 5020-5024 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
• O’Connell-Motherway, M., van Sinderen, D., Morel-Deville, F., Fitzgerald, G. F., Ehrlich, S. D., Morel, P. (2000). Six putative two-component regulatory systems isolated from Lactococcus lactis subsp. cremoris MG1363. Microbiology 146: 935-947 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
• Robert, H., Le Marrec, C., Blanco, C., Jebbar, M. (2000). Glycine Betaine, Carnitine, and Choline Enhance Salinity Tolerance and Prevent the Accumulation of Sodium to a Level Inhibiting Growth of Tetragenococcus halophila. Appl. Environ. Microbiol. 66: 509-517 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
• van der Heide, T., Poolman, B. (2000). Glycine Betaine Transport in Lactococcus lactis Is Osmotically Regulated at the Level of Expression and Translocation Activity. J. Bacteriol. 182: 203-206 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
• Obis, D., Guillot, A., Gripon, J.-C., Renault, P., Bolotin, A., Mistou, M.-Y. (1999). Genetic and Biochemical Characterization of a High-Affinity Betaine Uptake System (BusA) in Lactococcus lactis Reveals a New Functional Organization within Bacterial ABC Transporters. J. Bacteriol. 181: 6238-6246 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
• Uguen, P., Hamelin, J., Le Pennec, J.-P., Blanco, C. (1999). Influence of Osmolarity and the Presence of an Osmoprotectant on Lactococcus lactis Growth and Bacteriocin Production. Appl. Environ. Microbiol. 65: 291-293 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
• Glaasker, E., Heuberger, E. H. M. L., Konings, W. N., Poolman, B. (1998). Mechanism of Osmotic Activation of the Quaternary Ammonium Compound Transporter (QacT) of Lactobacillus plantarum. J. Bacteriol. 180: 5540-5546 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
• Glaasker, E., Tjan, F. S. B., Ter Steeg, P. F., Konings, W. N., Poolman, B. (1998). Physiological Response of Lactobacillus plantarum to Salt and Nonelectrolyte Stress. J. Bacteriol. 180: 4718-4723 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
• Liu, S.-Q., Asmundson, R. V., Gopal, P. K., Holland, R., Crow, V. L. (1998). Influence of Reduced Water Activity on Lactose Metabolism by Lactococcus lactis subsp. cremoris at Different pH Values. Appl. Environ. Microbiol. 64: 2111-2116 [Abstract] [Full Text]