3',5'-Cyclic diguanylic acid: a small nucleotide that makes big impacts.
3',5'-Cyclic diguanylic acid (c-di-GMP) is a naturally occurring small cyclic dinucleotide found in bacteria. There has been a recent surge of interest in the two-component signalling networks involving this molecule. This tutorial review introduces the biosynthesis of c-di-GMP, particularly the conserved domain features involved in its enzymatic synthesis and degradation, cellular functions and phenotypes regulated by c-di-GMP through c-di-GMP-binding proteins. The chemical synthesis and structural studies of c-di-GMP are also summarized. Two potential applications of c-di-GMP, i.e. bacterial biofilm formation and immunostimulation, are surveyed. Recent observations on c-di-GMP-binding riboswitches are also introduced.
Yan
Hongbin
H
Department of Chemistry, Brock University, 500 Glenridge Ave., St. Catharines, Ontario, L2S 3A1, Canada. tyan@brocku.ca
Chen
Wangxue
W
D000818:Animals; D001426:Bacterial Proteins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism; D018441:Biofilms; D006152:Cyclic GMP / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000737:chemistry / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D015398:Signal Transduction
D001426:Bacterial Proteins; C062025:bis(3',5')-cyclic diguanylic acid; D006152:Cyclic GMP