Abstract
The accumulation of intracellular organic solutes was examined in six species of the order Thermotogales by nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy. The newly discovered compounds di-2-O-beta-mannosyl-di-myo-inositol-1,1'(3,3')-phosphate and di-myo-inositol-1,3'-phosphate were identified in Thermotoga maritima and Thermotoga neapolitana. In the latter species, at the optimum temperature and salinity the organic solute pool was composed of di-myo-inositol-1,1'(3,3')-phosphate, beta-glutamate, and alpha-glutamate in addition to di-myo-inositol-1,3'-phosphate and di-2-O-beta-mannosyl-di-myo-inositol-1,1'(3,3')-phosphate. The concentrations of the last two solutes increased dramatically at supraoptimal growth temperatures, whereas beta-glutamate increased mainly in response to a salinity stress. Nevertheless, di-myo-inositol-1,1'(3,3')-phosphate was the major compatible solute at salinities above the optimum for growth. The amino acids alpha-glutamate and proline were identified under optimum growth conditions in Thermosipho africanus, and beta-mannosylglycerate, trehalose, and glycine betaine were detected in Petrotoga miotherma. Organic solutes were not detected, under optimum growth conditions, in Thermotoga thermarum and Fervidobacterium islandicum, which have a low salt requirement or none.