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

Abstract

The L-forms of amino acids are used in all kingdoms of life to synthesize proteins. However, the bacterium Vibriocholerae, 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.

• Authors: Felipe Cava
• Journal: International microbiology : the official journal of the Spanish Society for Microbiology (Int Microbiol) Vol. 20 Issue 3 Pg. 149-150 (Sep 2017) ISSN: 1139-6709 [Print] Switzerland
• PMID: 29446806 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Review)
• Copyright: Copyright© by the Spanish Society for Microbiology and Institute for Catalan Studies.

Chemical References

• Amino Acids
• Bacterial Proteins

Topics

• Amino Acids (chemistry)
• Bacterial Proteins (chemistry)
• Cell Wall (chemistry)
• Vibrio cholerae (chemistry)