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D-amino acids signal a stress-dependent run-away response in Vibrio cholerae

Authors :
Irazoki, Oihane
ter Beek, Josy
Alvarez, Laura
Mateus, André
Colin, Remy
Typas, Athanasios
Savitski, Mikhail M.
Sourjik, Victor
Berntsson, Ronnie P.-A.
Cava, Felipe
Irazoki, Oihane
ter Beek, Josy
Alvarez, Laura
Mateus, André
Colin, Remy
Typas, Athanasios
Savitski, Mikhail M.
Sourjik, Victor
Berntsson, Ronnie P.-A.
Cava, Felipe
Publication Year :
2023

Abstract

To explore favourable niches while avoiding threats, many bacteria use a chemotaxis navigation system. Despite decades of studies on chemotaxis, most signals and sensory proteins are still unknown. Many bacterial species release d-amino acids to the environment; however, their function remains largely unrecognized. Here we reveal that d-arginine and d-lysine are chemotactic repellent signals for the cholera pathogen Vibrio cholerae. These d-amino acids are sensed by a single chemoreceptor MCPDRK co-transcribed with the racemase enzyme that synthesizes them under the control of the stress-response sigma factor RpoS. Structural characterization of this chemoreceptor bound to either d-arginine or d-lysine allowed us to pinpoint the residues defining its specificity. Interestingly, the specificity for these d-amino acids appears to be restricted to those MCPDRK orthologues transcriptionally linked to the racemase. Our results suggest that d-amino acids can shape the biodiversity and structure of complex microbial communities under adverse conditions.

Details

Database :
OAIster
Notes :
application/pdf, English
Publication Type :
Electronic Resource
Accession number :
edsoai.on1400063593
Document Type :
Electronic Resource
Full Text :
https://doi.org/10.1038.s41564-023-01419-6