HMG-CoA reductase is a key enzyme in the sterol metabolism and also in the regulation of the membrane composition and fluidity. Its activity is regulated by environmental salinity and is essential for the halotolerance in the studied extremely halotolerant black yeast Hortaea werneckii and halophilic Wallemia ichthyophaga.
COBISS.SI-ID: 25205977
Halotolerant and halophilic fungi represent a much better model organisms for the study of adaptations to hypersaline conditions than mesophilic, salt-sensitive Saccharomyces cerevisiae. In the article we present 3 fungi, that we propose as new model organisms: extremely halotolerant black yeast Hortaea werneckii, halotolerante marine yeast Debaryomyces hansenii and halophilic fungus Wallemia ichthyophaga. The suggestion is based on their ecology and physiological and molecular mechanisms of adaptation already investigated.
COBISS.SI-ID: 26049241
Fungi of the halophilic genus Wallemia respond to increased salinity in the medium with changes on cell morphology level, as well as on the cell wall ultrastructure and thickness level. In less adpated species (W. sebi and W. muriae) colony morphology remained filamentous and ultrastructure and thickness of cell wall only partially changed at all tested salinities, while the obligately halophilic W. ichthyophaga at highest salinities changed morphology into into meristematic cell clumps, cell wall became multilayered and statistically significantly thicker.
COBISS.SI-ID: 6174073
Recent studies have revealed the diversity of fungi that can occur in stressful environments that are hostile to most eukaryotes. We reviewed these studies with the purpose of proposing some mechanisms that would allow for the evolutionary adaptation of eukaryotic microbial life under extreme conditions. We propose steps of evolution of generalist species towards the development of specialists, such as the genus Wallemia, which might even explain the emergence of novel fungal pathogens.
COBISS.SI-ID: 2166607
The aim of the present study was to investigate indigenous fungal communities isolated from hypersaline waters of solar salterns and subglacial ice, for the production of bioactive compounds under both standard growth conditions and at high NaCl and sugar concentrations and low growth temperatures. The results indicate that selected halotolerant and halophilic species, particularly the halophilic genus Wallemia, showed at increased salt concentrations a much higher hemolytic and antibacterial activity, than less halophilic species.
COBISS.SI-ID: 2320719