Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 20, 2026
11:31
Establishment of a High-throughput Setup for Screening Small Molecules That Modulate c-di-GMP Signaling in Pseudomonas aeruginosa
Published on: June 30, 2016
A new GNAT in bacterial signaling?
Structure (London, England : 1993)
|September 12, 2006
Summary
Novel acyl-amino acids, potential therapeutic agents from uncultured microbes, were identified. The N-acyl-amino acid synthase FeeM, bound to acyl-tyrosine, is a new member of the GCN5-related N-acyltransferase superfamily.
Area of Science:
- Biochemistry
- Microbiology
- Structural Biology
Background:
- Acyl-amino acids are compounds with potential therapeutic applications.
- These molecules are often produced by uncultured microorganisms, presenting a challenge for discovery.
- The search for novel therapeutic agents drives research into microbial metabolites.
Discussion:
- The N-acyl-amino acid synthase FeeM has been identified and characterized.
- FeeM binds to acyl-tyrosine, a specific type of acyl-amino acid.
- This enzyme's structure and function are relevant to understanding acyl-amino acid biosynthesis.
Key Insights:
- FeeM represents the most recent addition to the GCN5-related N-acyltransferase superfamily.
- The discovery provides structural insights into the mechanism of N-acyl-amino acid synthesis.
- This finding expands the known diversity of enzymes involved in acyl-amino acid metabolism.
Outlook:
- Further investigation of FeeM could reveal new therapeutic targets.
- Exploring uncultured microorganisms remains a promising avenue for novel drug discovery.
- Understanding the GCN5-related N-acyltransferase superfamily may lead to the development of new synthetic pathways.
Related Concept Videos
01:30Bacterial Signaling
Bacterial signaling can occur within bacteria (intracellular) or between bacteria (intercellular). At times, a group of bacteria behaves like a community. To achieve this, they engage in quorum sensing, the perception of higher cell density that causes changes in gene expression. Quorum sensing involves both extracellular and intracellular signaling. The signaling cascade starts with a molecule called an autoinducer (AI). Individual bacteria produce AIs that move out of the bacterial cell...
01:28Gene Regulation in Microbial Communities: Quorum Sensing
Quorum sensing is a mechanism of bacterial communication that enables coordinated gene expression in response to changes in population density. This facilitates collective behaviors that enhance survival, resource acquisition, and ecological adaptation. This process relies on small signaling molecules called autoinducers that accumulate as bacterial populations grow. When a critical threshold concentration of autoinducers is reached, bacterial cells collectively modify gene expression,...
01:28Regulation of Bacterial Virulence
Pathogenic bacteria employ a range of regulatory mechanisms to modulate the expression of virulence genes in response to environmental and host-derived signals. These mechanisms ensure that virulence factors are expressed only under favorable conditions, thereby optimizing infection and survival strategies.Mechanisms of Virulence RegulationKey regulatory strategies include:Two-Component Systems: These consist of a membrane-bound sensor kinase and a cytoplasmic response regulator. Environmental...
01:28Yeast Signaling
Yeasts are single-celled organisms, but unlike bacteria, they are eukaryotes (cells with a nucleus). Cell signaling in yeast is similar to signaling in other eukaryotic cells. A ligand, such as a protein or a small molecule released from a yeast cell, attaches to a receptor on the cell surface. The binding stimulates second-messenger kinases to activate or inactivate transcription factors that further regulate gene expression. Many of the yeast intracellular signaling cascades have similar...
01:28Global Regulatory Systems
Global regulatory systems in bacteria enable rapid and coordinated responses to environmental changes by integrating sensory inputs with gene expression, ensuring efficient adaptation to fluctuating conditions. Key global regulatory mechanisms include regulons, two-component systems, sigma factors, and secondary messengers.Regulons and Global RegulatorsA regulon is a collection of genes and operons controlled by a common global regulator. These regulators enable bacteria to prioritize resource...
03:14Notch Signaling Pathway
The Notch signaling pathway is a major intracellular signaling pathway that is highly conserved over a broad spectrum of metazoan species. It stands unique from other intracellular signaling mechanisms in animals because notch protein itself acts as the receptor as well as the primary signaling molecule.
The Notch gene came into the limelight in 1914 after the discovery that its mutation in Drosophila melanogaster leads to a serrated (or "notched") wing margin phenotype. It was not until 1985...
The Notch gene came into the limelight in 1914 after the discovery that its mutation in Drosophila melanogaster leads to a serrated (or "notched") wing margin phenotype. It was not until 1985...