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Updated: Jun 24, 2026

An Anaerobic Biosensor Assay for the Detection of Mercury and Cadmium
Published on: December 17, 2018
HMG-CoA reductase is regulated by environmental salinity and its activity is essential for halotolerance in
T Vaupotic1, P Veranic, U Petrovic
1Institute of Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine, University of Ljubljana, Vrazov Trg 2, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia.
Abstract:
The activity and level of HMG-CoA reductase (HMGR) were addressed in halophilic fungi isolated from solar saltpans. Representative fungi belonging to the orders Dothideales, Eurotiales and Wallemiales have a specific pattern of HMGR regulation, which differs from salt-sensitive and moderately salt-tolerant yeasts. In all of the halophilic fungi studied, HMGR amounts and activities were the lowest at optimal growth salinity and increased under hyposaline and hypersaline conditions. This profile paralleled isoprenylation of cellular proteins in H. werneckii. Inhibition of HMGR in vivo by lovastatin impaired the halotolerant character. HMGR may thus serve as an important molecular marker of halotolerance.
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