COMPOSITION AND CONTENT OF OSMOPROTECTANTS IN OIL-OXIDIZING BACTERIA GROWN UNDER DIFFERENT CULTIVATION CONDITIONS

It was shown that aspartic and glutamic acids, as well as proline and glycine betaine, are the major compatible intracellular osmoprotectant s in oil-oxidizing halophilic and halotolerant bacteria isolated from highly mineralized stratal waters of oil fields. Halotolerant Coryneba cterium sp. U-3 cells accumulated glycine betaine via both de novo syn thesis and uptake from the medium. The mechanism of bacterial haloadap tation could lie in an additive protective effect of elevated intracel lular concentrations of amino acids, glycine betaine, and inorganic io ns.