Racemization in reverse: evidence that D-amino acid toxicity on Earth is controlled by bacteria with racemases.
D-amino acids are toxic for life on Earth. Yet, they form constantly due to geochemical racemization and bacterial growth (the cell walls of which contain D-amino acids), raising the fundamental question of how they ultimately are recycled. This study provides evidence that bacteria use D-amino acid...
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doaj-53971f2dd7c141e99a8ed45de4f5d0192020-11-24T23:58:00ZengPublic Library of Science (PLoS)PLoS ONE1932-62032014-01-0193e9210110.1371/journal.pone.0092101Racemization in reverse: evidence that D-amino acid toxicity on Earth is controlled by bacteria with racemases.Gaosen ZhangHenry J SunD-amino acids are toxic for life on Earth. Yet, they form constantly due to geochemical racemization and bacterial growth (the cell walls of which contain D-amino acids), raising the fundamental question of how they ultimately are recycled. This study provides evidence that bacteria use D-amino acids as a source of nitrogen by running enzymatic racemization in reverse. Consequently, when soils are inundated with racemic amino acids, resident bacteria consume D- as well as L-enantiomers, either simultaneously or sequentially depending on the level of their racemase activity. Bacteria thus protect life on Earth by keeping environments D-amino acid free.http://europepmc.org/articles/PMC3960212?pdf=render |
collection |
DOAJ |
language |
English |
format |
Article |
sources |
DOAJ |
author |
Gaosen Zhang Henry J Sun |
spellingShingle |
Gaosen Zhang Henry J Sun Racemization in reverse: evidence that D-amino acid toxicity on Earth is controlled by bacteria with racemases. PLoS ONE |
author_facet |
Gaosen Zhang Henry J Sun |
author_sort |
Gaosen Zhang |
title |
Racemization in reverse: evidence that D-amino acid toxicity on Earth is controlled by bacteria with racemases. |
title_short |
Racemization in reverse: evidence that D-amino acid toxicity on Earth is controlled by bacteria with racemases. |
title_full |
Racemization in reverse: evidence that D-amino acid toxicity on Earth is controlled by bacteria with racemases. |
title_fullStr |
Racemization in reverse: evidence that D-amino acid toxicity on Earth is controlled by bacteria with racemases. |
title_full_unstemmed |
Racemization in reverse: evidence that D-amino acid toxicity on Earth is controlled by bacteria with racemases. |
title_sort |
racemization in reverse: evidence that d-amino acid toxicity on earth is controlled by bacteria with racemases. |
publisher |
Public Library of Science (PLoS) |
series |
PLoS ONE |
issn |
1932-6203 |
publishDate |
2014-01-01 |
description |
D-amino acids are toxic for life on Earth. Yet, they form constantly due to geochemical racemization and bacterial growth (the cell walls of which contain D-amino acids), raising the fundamental question of how they ultimately are recycled. This study provides evidence that bacteria use D-amino acids as a source of nitrogen by running enzymatic racemization in reverse. Consequently, when soils are inundated with racemic amino acids, resident bacteria consume D- as well as L-enantiomers, either simultaneously or sequentially depending on the level of their racemase activity. Bacteria thus protect life on Earth by keeping environments D-amino acid free. |
url |
http://europepmc.org/articles/PMC3960212?pdf=render |
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