title: Uncovering the Nonessential Nature of an Essential Second Messenger.
abstract: Synthesis of the cyclic nucleotide c-di-AMP has been reported for a number of bacteria, but the physiological role of this apparently essential second messenger has remained unclear. In this issue of Cell Host & Microbe, Whiteley et al. (2015) elucidate the pathways linking c-di-AMP with the appropriate regulation of bacterial metabolism.
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL 60612-7344, USA.
authors.forename: Bobbi
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Xayarath
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL 60612-7344, USA. Electronic address: nfreitag@uic.edu.
authors.forename: Nancy E
authors.initials: NE
authors.lastname: Freitag
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D015226:Dinucleoside Phosphates / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D006158:Guanosine Pentaphosphate / Q000378:metabolism*; D008089:Listeria monocytogenes / Q000254:growth & development*
chemical_list: D015226:Dinucleoside Phosphates; C528998:cyclic diadenosine phosphate; D006158:Guanosine Pentaphosphate