Free amino acid dynamics in marine methanogens. beta-Amino acids as compatible solutes.

Methanogenic archaebacteria respond to osmotic stress by accumulating a series of organic molecules which function as compatible solutes. In two strains of marine methanogenic archaebacteria, Methanogenium cariaci and Methanococcus thermolithotrophicus, four key organic solutes are observed: L-alpha-glutamate, beta-glutamate, N epsilon-acetyl-beta-lysine, and betaine. The first three of these are synthesized de novo; betaine is transported into the Mg. cariaci cells from the medium. Mesophilic Mg. cariaci will preferentially transport betaine from the extracellular medium if it is present to counterbalance the external NaCl. In its absence it synthesizes N epsilon-acetyl-beta-lysine as the dominant osmolyte. This zwitterionic compound occurs at levels in Mg. cariaci which are considerably greater (based on mumol/mg of protein) than in Mc. thermolithotrophicus grown in media of the same ionic strength. Intracellular potassium ion concentrations, determined by 39K NMR spectroscopy and atomic absorption, differ significantly in the two cells. In Mc. thermolithotrophicus, intracellular K+ is balanced by the total concentration of anionic amino acid species, glutamate, and beta-glutamate. Turnover of the organic solutes has been monitored using 13C-pulse/12C-chase, and 15N-pulse/14N-chase experiments. Both beta-amino acids exhibit slower turnover rates when compared to L-alpha-glutamate or aspartate, consistent with their roles as compatible solutes. Biosynthetic information for the beta-amino acids is also provided by 13C-labeling experiments. beta-Glutamate shows a lag in 13C uptake from 13CO2, indicative of its biosynthesis from a precursor (probably a macromolecule) not in equilibrium with the soluble L-alpha-glutamate pool. Confirmation of a novel route for beta-glutamate synthesis and the production of the beta-lysine moiety from the diaminopimelate pathway is deduced from [13C2]acetate labeling patterns.