Blockers for excitatory effects of achatin-I, a tetrapeptide having a d-phenylalanine residue, on a snail neurone

Santos, Divina E.; Liu, Guo Jun; Takeuchi, Hiroshi

doi:10.1016/0014-2999(94)00659-u

Cited by 8 publications

(1 citation statement)

References 17 publications

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“…While posttranslational modification occurs primarily in eukaryotes, NRP synthesis is more frequent in bacteria. For example, dermorphin is an analgesic 1,000 times more potent than morphine [14, 15], achatin-I is an excitatory neurotransmitter [16–18], and gramicidines and tyrocidines have antimicrobial activity [19–23]. Considering that Tables 1 and 2 summarize most of the known examples in the literature, d- amino acid-containing peptides seem relatively unusual.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Emerging knowledge of regulatory roles of d-amino acids in bacteria

Cava

Lam

Pedro

et al. 2010

Cell. Mol. Life Sci.

331

255

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The d-enantiomers of amino acids have been thought to have relatively minor functions in biological processes. While l-amino acids clearly predominate in nature, d-amino acids are sometimes found in proteins that are not synthesized by ribosomes, and d-Ala and d-Glu are routinely found in the peptidoglycan cell wall of bacteria. Here, we review recent findings showing that d-amino acids have previously unappreciated regulatory roles in the bacterial kingdom. Many diverse bacterial phyla synthesize and release d-amino acids, including d-Met and d-Leu, which were not previously known to be made. These noncanonical d-amino acids regulate cell wall remodeling in stationary phase and cause biofilm dispersal in aging bacterial communities. Elucidating the mechanisms by which d-amino acids govern cell wall remodeling and biofilm disassembly will undoubtedly reveal new paradigms for understanding how extracytoplasmic processes are regulated as well as lead to development of novel therapeutics.

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