Spatial organisation enhances versatility and specificity in cyclic di-GMP signaling.

Spatial organisation enhances versatility and specificity in cyclic di-GMP signaling.
Biol Chem. 2020 Sep 01;:
Authors: Kunz S, Graumann PL
Abstract
The second messenger cyclic di-GMP regulates a variety of processes in bacteria, many of which are centered around the decision whether to adopt a sessile or a motile life style. Regulatory circuits include pathogenicity, biofilm formation and motility in a wide variety of bacteria, and play a key role in cell cycle progression in Caulobacter crescentus. Interestingly, multiple, seemingly independent c-di-GMP pathways have been found in several species, where deletions of individual c-di-GMP synthetases (DGCs) or hydrolases (PDEs) have resulted in distinct phenotypes that would not be expected based on a freely diffusible second messenger. Several recent studies have shown that individual signaling nodes exist, and additionally, that protein/protein interactions between DGCs, PDEs and c-di- GMP receptors play an important role in signaling specificity. Additionally, subcellular clustering has been shown to be employed by bacteria to likely generate local signaling of second messenger, and/or to increase signaling specificity. This review highlights recent findings that reveal how bacteria employ spatial cues to increase the versatility of second messenger signaling.
PMID: 32918803 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]

Source: Biological Chemistry - September 14, 2020 Category: Chemistry Tags: Biol Chem Source Type: research