Cell biology

Biofilm

Bacteria

Biology

Vibrio cholerae

Phospholipase

Cholera

Cholera toxin

Signal transduction

Vibrionaceae

Biochemistry

Second messenger system

Genetics

El Tor

Microbiology

Enzyme

Effector

Phospholipase C

Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences

Significance Second messengers are employed by all organisms to regulate fundamental behaviors, including biofilm formation, motility, metabolism, and pathogenesis in bacteria. We have identified a phospholipase in the El Tor Vibrio cholerae biotype, responsible for the current cholera pandemic, that is directly activated by the second messenger 3′, 3′-cyclic GMP-AMP (cGAMP). Discovery of this proteinaceous bacterial cGAMP effector sheds light on the functions and basic principles of cGAMP signaling. Both this phospholipase and the cGAMP synthase are encoded within the VSP-1 pathogenicity island, unique to the El Tor biotype, and our findings assign a biochemical function to VSP-1 that may contribute to the epidemiological success of El Tor V. cholerae .

Direct activation of a phospholipase by cyclic GMP-AMP in El Tor <i>Vibrio cholerae</i>

Direct activation of a phospholipase by cyclic GMP-AMP in El Tor Vibrio cholerae