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Bacillithiol is an antioxidant thiol produced in Bacilli.
Gerald L Newton1, Mamta Rawat, James J La Clair
1Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of California-San Diego, La Jolla, California, USA.
Nature Chemical Biology
|July 7, 2009
Summary
Researchers discovered bacillithiol, a novel antioxidant thiol found in bacteria like Bacillus and Staphylococcus aureus. This molecule may act as a glutathione substitute, crucial for bacterial survival.
Area of Science:
- Microbiology
- Biochemistry
Background:
- Glutathione, a key antioxidant, is absent in many Gram-positive bacteria.
- This absence suggests the existence of alternative protective molecules.
Purpose of the Study:
- To identify and characterize a novel thiol antioxidant in bacteria.
- To elucidate the structure and potential function of bacillithiol.
Main Methods:
- Structural elucidation of bacillithiol.
- Analysis of thiol distribution in bacterial species.
Main Results:
- Bacillithiol, an alpha-anomeric glycoside of L-cysteinyl-D-glucosamine with L-malic acid, was identified.
- This thiol is abundant in Bacillus species, Staphylococcus aureus, and Deinococcus radiodurans.
- Bacillithiol likely functions as an antioxidant.
Conclusions:
- Bacillithiol is a significant antioxidant thiol in certain bacteria.
- It may serve as a functional analog to glutathione.
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