REVIEW: Energetics of Alkalophilic Representatives of the Genus Bacillus

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M. S. Muntyan^*, I. V. Popova, D. A. Bloch, E. V. Skripnikova, and V. S. Ustiyan

Belozersky Institute of Physico-Chemical Biology, Lomonosov Moscow State University, 119992 Moscow, Russia; fax: (7-095) 939-3181; E-mail: muntyan@genebee.msu.su

^* To whom correspondence should be addressed.

Received October 11, 2004

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Cytochrome and lipid composition of membranes is considered as the attributes required for adaptation of the alkalophiles to alkaline conditions. Respiratory chains of alkalophilic representatives of the genus Bacillus are discussed. Special attention is paid to the features of the Na⁺-cycle of these bacteria and to the features determining halo- and alkalotolerant phenotype, which have been reported due to recent achievements in genomics.

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KEY WORDS: Bacillus pseudofirmus, Bacillus halodurans, halotolerant, alkalotolerant, alkalophile, sodium cycle, cytochrome, terminal oxidase, respiratory chain, fatty acids

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