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| Cyclic di-GMP | |
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| Properties | |
| Molecular formula | C20H24N10O14P2 |
| Molar mass | 690.094869 g/mol |
| Except where noted otherwise, data are given for materials in their standard state (at 25 °C, 100 kPa) Infobox references |
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Cyclic di-GMP (also called cyclic diguanylate and c-di-GMP) is a second messenger used in signal transduction in a wide variety of bacteria.1 Cyclic di-GMP is not known to be used by eukaryotes or archaea. The biological role of cyclic di-GMP was first uncovered when it was identified as an allosteric inhibitor of a cellulose synthase found in in Gluconacetobacter xylinus.2
In structure, it is tiny cycle of RNA, containing only two guanine basis linked by ribose and phosphate.
In bacteria, certain signals are communicated by synthesizing or degrading cyclic di-GMP. Cyclic di-GMP is synthesized by proteins with diguanylate cyclase activity. These proteins typically have a characteristic GGDEF motif, which refers to a conserved sequence of five amino acids. Degradation of cyclic di-GMP is effected by proteins with phosphodiesterase activity. These proteins have either an EAL or an HD-GYP amino acid motif. Processes that are known to be regulated using cyclic di-GMP, at least in some organisms, include biofilm formation, motility and induction of virulence factors.
Cyclic di-GMP levels are regulated using a variety of mechanisms. Many proteins with GGDEF, EAL or HD-GYP domains are found with other domains that can receive signals, such as PAS domains. Enzymes that degrade or synthesize cyclic di-GMP are believed to be localized to specific regions of the cell, where they influence receivers in a restricted space. Some diguanylate cyclase enzymes and a cellulose synthase in Gluconacetobacter xylinus are allosterically inhibited by cyclic di-GMP.
Cyclic di-GMP levels regulate other processes via a number of mechanisms. The Gluconacetobacter xylinus cellolose synthase is allosterically inhibited by cyclic di-GMP, presenting a mechanism by which cyclic di-GMP can regulate cellolose synthase activity. The PilZ domain has been shown to bind cyclic di-GMP and is believed to be involved in cyclic di-GMP-dependent regulation, but the mechanism by which it does this is unknown. A riboswitch called the cyclic di-GMP riboswitch has been found that regulates gene expression in response to cyclic di-GMP concentrations in a variety of bacteria, but not all bacteria that are known to use cyclic di-GMP.
References
- ^ Tamayo R, Pratt JT, Camilli A (2007). "Roles of cyclic diguanylate in the regulation of bacterial pathogenesis". Annu. Rev. Microbiol. 61: 131–48. doi:. PMID 17480182.
- ^ P. Ross, H. Weinhouse, Y. Aloni, D. Michaeli, P. Weinberger-Ohana, R. Mayer, S. Braun, E. de Vroom, G. A. van der Mare, J. H. van Boom & M. Benziman (1987). "Regulation of cellulose synthesis in Acetobacter xylinum by cyclic diguanylic acid". Nature 325: 279–81. doi:.
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