D-amino acids govern stationary phase cell wall remodeling in bacteria.

Full Abstract

In all known organisms, amino acids are predominantly thought to be synthesized and used as their L-enantiomers. Here, we found that bacteria produce diverse D-amino acids as well, which accumulate at millimolar concentrations in supernatants of stationary phase cultures. In Vibrio cholerae, a dedicated racemase produced D-Met and D-Leu, whereas Bacillus subtilis generated D-Tyr and D-Phe. These unusual D-amino acids appear to modulate synthesis of peptidoglycan, a strong and elastic polymer that serves as the stress-bearing component of the bacterial cell wall. D-Amino acids influenced peptidoglycan composition, amount, and strength, both by means of their incorporation into the polymer and by regulating enzymes that synthesize and modify it. Thus, synthesis of D-amino acids may be a common strategy for bacteria to adapt to changing environmental conditions.

Author information

Author/s: Lam, Hubert (H); Oh, Dong-Chan (DC); Cava, Felipe (F); Takacs, Constantin N (CN); Clardy, Jon (J); de Pedro, Miguel A (MA); Waldor, Matthew K (MK);

Affiliation: Channing Laboratory, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, and Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Boston, MA 02115, USA.

Grants: AI-R37-42347 (Agency:NIAID NIH HHS) ; CA24487 (Agency:NCI NIH HHS) ; GM086258 (Agency:NIGMS NIH HHS) ; (Agency:Howard Hughes Medical Institute)

Journal and publication information

Publication Type: Journal Article; Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural; Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

Journal: Science (New York, N.Y.) (Science), published in United States. (Language: eng)

Reference: 2009-Sep; vol 325 (issue 5947) : pp 1552-5

Dates: Created 2009/09/18; Completed 2009/09/28; Revised 2009/10/12;

PMID: 19762646, status: MEDLINE (last retrieval date: 10/13/2009, IMS Date: )

Sourced from the National Library of Medicine. Abstract text and other information may be subject to copyright.

Comments and Corrections

CommentIn: Science. 2009 Sep 18;325(5947):1505-6. (PMID: 19762631)

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MeSH headings (categories)

This article was linked to the MESH Headings shown below.

Alanine - chemistry; metabolism
Amino Acid Isomerases - genetics; metabolism
Amino Acids - chemistry; metabolism
Bacillus subtilis - growth & development; metabolism; ultrastructure
Cell Wall - metabolism; ultrastructure
Down-Regulation
Glutamic Acid - chemistry; metabolism
Isoleucine - metabolism

Leucine - metabolism
Methionine - metabolism
Oligopeptides - chemistry
Peptidoglycan - biosynthesis; chemistry
Polysaccharides - chemistry
Stereoisomerism
Valine - metabolism
Vibrio cholerae - cytology; growth & development; metabolism; ultrastructure

Associated Chemicals: Amino Acids (0) ; Oligopeptides (0) ; Peptidoglycan (0) ; Polysaccharides (0) ; Alanine (56-41-7) ; Glutamic Acid (56-86-0) ; Leucine (61-90-5) ; Methionine (63-68-3) ; Valine (7004-03-7) ; Isoleucine (73-32-5) ; Amino Acid Isomerases (EC 5.1.1.-)

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