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Hoffmann, R. A wiki for the life sciences where authorship matters. Nature Genetics (2008)
 
 
 

Fermentation product butane 2,3-diol induces Ca(2+) transients in E. coli through activation of lanthanum-sensitive Ca(2+) channels.

The results here are the first demonstration of a physiological agonist opening Ca(2+) channels in bacteria. Bacteria in the gut ferment glucose and other substrates, producing alcohols, diols, ketones and acids, that play a key role in lactose intolerance, through the activation of Ca(2+) and other ion channels in host cells and neighbouring bacteria. Here we show butane 2,3-diol (5-200mM; half maximum 25mM) activates Ca(2+) transients in E. coli, monitored by aequorin. Ca(2+)-transient magnitude depended on external Ca(2+) (0.1-10mM). meso-Butane 2,3-diol was approximately twice as potent as 2R,3R (-) and 2S,3S (+) butane 2,3-diol. There were no detectable effects on cytosolic free Ca(2+) of butane 1,3-diol, butane 1,4-diol and ethylene glycol. The glycerol fermentation product propane 1,3-diol only induced significant Ca(2+) transients in 10mM external Ca(2). Ca(2+) butane 2,3-diol Ca(2+) transients were due to activation of Ca(2+) influx, followed by activation of Ca(2+) efflux. The effect of butane 2,3-diol was abolished by La(3+), and markedly reduced as a function of growth phase. These results were consistent with butane 2,3-diol activating a novel La(3+)-sensitive Ca(2+) channel. They have important implications for the role of butane 2,3-diol and Ca(2+) in bacterial-host cell signalling.[1]

References

  1. Fermentation product butane 2,3-diol induces Ca(2+) transients in E. coli through activation of lanthanum-sensitive Ca(2+) channels. Campbell, A.K., Naseem, R., Wann, K., Holland, I.B., Matthews, S.B. Cell Calcium (2007) [Pubmed]
 
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