D-Amino acids shape the environmental microbial biodiversity

The L-forms of amino acids are used in all kingdoms of life to synthesize proteins. However, some bacteria can secrete D-amino acids to the environment at millimolar concentrations. Recent findings demonstrate an increasing importance of these molecules in enhancing the ability of the bacterium to colonize and persist in a particular niche. The seminar will focus on the divergent functional roles of these D-amino acid effectors in targeting distinct cellular processes in bacteria and their ecological consequences on the environmental biodiversity.