Multiple Osmotic Stress Responses in Acidihalobacter prosperus Result in Tolerance to Chloride Ions.

ABSTRACT: Extremely acidophilic microorganisms (pH optima for growth of ≤3) are utilized for the extraction of metals from sulfide minerals in the industrial biotechnology of "biomining." A long term goal for biomining has been development of microbial consortia able to withstand increased chloride concentrations for use in regions where freshwater is scarce. However, when challenged by elevated salt, acidophiles experience both osmotic stress and an acidification of the cytoplasm due to a collapse of the inside positive membrane potential, leading to an influx of protons. In this study, we tested the ability of the halotolerant acidophile Acidihalobacter prosperus to grow and catalyze sulfide mineral dissolution in elevated concentrations of salt and identified chloride tolerance mechanisms

SUBMITTER: Dopson M 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5216662 | biostudies-literature | 2016

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature