Emerging Knowledge of Regulatory Roles of D-Amino Acids in Bacteria
| Title: | Emerging Knowledge of Regulatory Roles of D-Amino Acids in Bacteria |
| Author: |
Cava, Felipe; Lam, Hubert; de Pedro, Miguel A.; Waldor, Matthew K
Note: Order does not necessarily reflect citation order of authors. |
| Citation: | Cava, Felipe, Hubert Lam, Miguel A. de Pedro, and Matthew K. Waldor. 2010. Emerging knowledge of regulatory roles of D-amino acids in bacteria. Cellular and Molecular Life Sciences 68(5): 817-831. |
| Full Text & Related Files: |
3037491.pdf (667.4Kb; PDF) 
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| Abstract: | The D-enantiomers of amino acids have been thought to have relatively minor functions in biological processes. While L-amino acids clearly predominate in nature, D-amino acids are sometimes found in proteins that are not synthesized by ribosomes, and D-Ala and D-Glu are routinely found in the peptidoglycan cell wall of bacteria. Here, we review recent findings showing that D-amino acids have previously unappreciated regulatory roles in the bacterial kingdom. Many diverse bacterial phyla synthesize and release D-amino acids, including D-Met and D-Leu, which were not previously known to be made. These noncanonical D-amino acids regulate cell wall remodeling in stationary phase and cause biofilm dispersal in aging bacterial communities. Elucidating the mechanisms by which D-amino acids govern cell wall remodeling and biofilm disassembly will undoubtedly reveal new paradigms for understanding how extracytoplasmic processes are regulated as well as lead to development of novel therapeutics. |
| Published Version: | doi://10.1007/s00018-010-0571-8 |
| Other Sources: | http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3037491/pdf/ |
| Terms of Use: | This article is made available under the terms and conditions applicable to Other Posted Material, as set forth at http://nrs.harvard.edu/urn-3:HUL.InstRepos:dash.current.terms-of-use#LAA |
| Citable link to this page: | http://nrs.harvard.edu/urn-3:HUL.InstRepos:5360625 |
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