Divergent functional roles of D-amino acids secreted by Vibrio cholerae

Autores/as

  • Felipe Cava

Palabras clave:

Vibrio cholerae, D-amino acids, cell wall, D-methionine, D-arginine

Resumen

The L-forms of amino acids are used in all kingdoms of life to synthesize proteins. However, the bacterium Vibrio
cholerae, the causative agent of cholera, produces D-amino acids which are released to the environment at millimolar concentrations.
We baptized these D-amino acids as non-canonical D-amino acids (NCDAAs) since they are different from those (i.e.
D-alanine and D-glutamate) normally present in the bacterial cell wall. In V. cholerae, production of NCDAAs relies on the BsrV
enzyme, a periplasmic broad spectrum racemase. BsrV multispecific activity, produces of a wide range of distinct D-amino acids.
Using a combination of genetics and molecular physiology approaches we have demonstrated that NCDAAs target different cellular
processes which may function as part of a cooperative strategy in vibrio communities to protect non-producing members from
competing bacteria. Because NCDAA production is widespread in bacteria, we anticipate that NCDAAs are relevant modulators
of microbial subpopulations in diverse ecosystems.

Biografía del autor/a

Felipe Cava

The laboratory for Molecular Infection Medicine Sweden (MIMS), Department of Molecular Biology. Umeå University.
90187. Umeå. Sweden. Ph: +46(0) 90 785 6755.

Descargas

Publicado

2018-02-27

Número

Vol. 20 Núm. 3 (2017)

Sección

Research Reviews

Licencia

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