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

• Autores: Felipe Cava
• Localización: International microbiology: official journal of the Spanish Society for Microbiology, ISSN 1139-6709, Vol. 20, Nº. 3, 2017, págs. 149-150
• Idioma: inglés
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• Resumen

  • 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 BsrVenzyme, 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 cellularprocesses which may function as part of a cooperative strategy in vibrio communities to protect non-producing members fromcompeting bacteria. Because NCDAA production is widespread in bacteria, we anticipate that NCDAAs are relevant modulatorsof microbial subpopulations in diverse ecosystems.