ECTOINE AS THE PREDOMINANT OSMOLYTE IN THE MARINE BACTERIUM MARINOBACTER-HYDROCARBONOCLASTICUS GROWN ON EICOSANE AT HIGH SALINITIES

Ectoine was detected by C-13-nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy i n extracts of the halophilic marine bacterium Marinobacter hydrocarbon oclasticus grown at different NaCl concentrations (0.6, 1.5, 2.5 mol l (-1)) in synthetic seawater on eicosane as the sole source of carbon a nd energy. Ectoine was synthesized as the principal osmolyte in respon se to stress. However, when the medium was supplemented with glycine b etaine, this osmolyte was transported into the cells and replaced ecto ine.