The Role of the GGDEF Domain in C-di-GMP Metabolism and Its Structural Basis

YANG Tingting^1,2, YUAN Wensu^1,2*

(¹School of Life Sciences, Tianjin University, Tianjin 300072, China; ²Tianjin Key Laboratory of Function and Application of Biological Macromolecular Structures, Tianjin 300072, China)

Abstract:

C-di-GMP (cyclic diguanylate monophosphate) is an important second messenger in bacteria which can regulate biological movements, including biofilm formation, cell differentiation, bacterial motility and virulence factor production. The GGDEF domain plays an important role in c-di-GMP metabolism. On the one hand, GGDEF domain widely exists in DGCs (diguanylate cyclases), catalyzing the synthesis of c-di-GMP. On the other hand, GGDEF domain can also be connected with EAL domain and other domains to participate in c-di-GMP degradation. This paper systematically introduces the metabolic process and physiological action of c-di-GMP, focuses on the structural basis and mechanism of GGDEF domain in effectively regulating c-di-GMP metabolism, and discusses the application value and future direction of research in this field.

CSTR: 32200.14.cjcb.2022.06.0021