Carbohydrate Accumulation and Osmotic Stress in Cyanobacteria

Abstract

In a comprehensive survey of the carbohydrate accumulation profiles of more than 70 strains of cyanobacteria three organic osmotica (glucosylglycerol, sucrose and trehalose) have been identified in both freshwater and marine isolates under conditions of osmotic stress. While the trend was towards glucosylglycerol accumulation in marine strains and sucrose accumulation in freshwater forms, there were no absolute differences between cyanobacteria isolated from each habitat. There was also no clear link between genus and the type of carbohydrate accumulated.