Regulatory aspects of ectoine biosynthesis in halophilic bacteria

Abstract

In this review, the current concepts of metabolic and genetic regulation of the synthesis of ectoine and hydroxyectoine, widely distributed osmoprotectors of halophilic bacteria, are analyzed and generalized. Due to their water-retaining properties, these compounds can be used as multifunctional bioprotectants. The relevance of deciphering ectoine biosynthesis regulation at the levels of enzyme activity and gene transcription in halophiles is related to the search and creation of novel, more efficient producers by deliberate genetic-engineering construction. In spite of the conservativeness of the ectoine biosynthesis pathway in relation to genes and enzymes, indicating the horizontal transfer of ect genes, different enzyme properties and mechanisms of transcriptional regulation of the ectoine operon were revealed in various halophilic bacteria. The models of transcriptional regulation of the genes of ectoine biosynthesis in Chromohalobacter salexigens and Methylomicrobium alcaliphilum are discussed.