Survival strategies in the aquatic and terrestrial world: the impact of second messengers on cyanobacterial processes.

Life (Basel)

Cell and Molecular Biology Graduate Program, 322 Plant Biology Building, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI 48824, USA.

Published: November 2014

AI Article Synopsis

  • Second messengers are crucial intracellular molecules that help cells respond quickly to environmental changes, regulated by external signals known as first messengers.
  • Cyanobacteria, a type of photosynthetic bacteria, rely on second messengers such as calcium, (p)ppGpp, cAMP, c-di-GMP, cGMP, c-di-AMP, and nitric oxide for essential processes like nitrogen fixation, light sensing, and photosynthesis.
  • The article emphasizes the need for further research on the signaling networks in cyanobacteria to unlock new technological applications based on their second messenger systems.

Article Abstract

Second messengers are intracellular substances regulated by specific external stimuli globally known as first messengers. Cells rely on second messengers to generate rapid responses to environmental changes and the importance of their roles is becoming increasingly realized in cellular signaling research. Cyanobacteria are photooxygenic bacteria that inhabit most of Earth's environments. The ability of cyanobacteria to survive in ecologically diverse habitats is due to their capacity to adapt and respond to environmental changes. This article reviews known second messenger-controlled physiological processes in cyanobacteria. Second messengers used in these systems include the element calcium (Ca2+), nucleotide-based guanosine tetraphosphate or pentaphosphate (ppGpp or pppGpp, represented as (p)ppGpp), cyclic adenosine 3',5'-monophosphate (cAMP), cyclic dimeric GMP (c-di-GMP), cyclic guanosine 3',5'-monophosphate (cGMP), and cyclic dimeric AMP (c-di-AMP), and the gaseous nitric oxide (NO). The discussion focuses on processes central to cyanobacteria, such as nitrogen fixation, light perception, photosynthesis-related processes, and gliding motility. In addition, we address future research trajectories needed to better understand the signaling networks and cross talk in the signaling pathways of these molecules in cyanobacteria. Second messengers have significant potential to be adapted as technological tools and we highlight possible novel and practical applications based on our understanding of these molecules and the signaling networks that they control.

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Source
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4284465PMC
http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/life4040745DOI Listing

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