The Role of Osmolytes and Membrane Lipids in the Adaptation of Acidophilic Fungi

Acidophiles maintain near-neutral intracellular pH using proton pumps. We have suggested the protective role of osmolytes and membrane lipids in the adaptation to an acidic environment. Previously we have observed, for the first time, high levels of trehalose in acidophilic basidiomycete . Here, we have studied the composition of both osmolytes and membrane lipids of two more acidophilic fungi. Trehalose and polyols were among the main osmolytes during growth under optimal conditions (pH 4.0) in basidiomycete and ascomycete sp. Phosphatidic acids, phosphatidylethanolamines, phosphatidylcholines, and sterols, were predominant membrane lipids in both fungi. had a narrow optimum of growth at pH 4.0, resulting in a sharp decline of growth rate at pH 2.6 and 5.0, accompanied by a decrease in the number of osmolytes and significant changes in the composition of membrane lipids. In contrast, sp. had a broad optimal growth range (pH 3.0-5.0), and the number of osmolytes either stayed the same (at pH 6.0) or increased (at pH 2.6), while membrane lipids composition remained unchanged. Thus, the data obtained indicate the participation of osmolytes and membrane lipids in the adaptation of acidophilic fungi.