RESUMEN
In an attempt to generalize previous observations (Jaenicke et al., Appl. Environ. Microbiol. 1988, 54, 2375-2380) and to find a convenient model system for studies of the pressure response, we tested the suitability of Escherichia coli and Thermotoga maritima (bacteria), and of five different eukaryotic species including the filamentous fungi Asteromyces cruciatus and Dendryphiella salina, and the marine yeasts Debaryomyces hansenii, Rhodosporidium sphaerocarpum, and Rhodotorula rubra. Using two-dimensional polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, detailed investigations on the pressure response were carried out with E. coli and Rhodosporidium sphaerocarpum. In the former organism, major pressure response proteins could not be detected, although there are significant differences in expression of some proteins as well as some minor components that are found in all of the high pressure cell extracts but not in extracts from cultures grown at atmospheric pressure. In Rhodosporidium sphaerocarpum, no change in protein expression patterns was observed between 0.1 and 20 MPa. However, approaching the limit of viability of 50 MPa, additional protein spots became detectable at 45 MPa. This finding correlates with the observation of abnormal growth forms of the organism at this pressure (Lorenz, R. et al. manuscript in preparation).