At the crossroads of bacterial signaling and RNA degradation

Biofilm formation - the switch from a free-swimming to a sessile, social lifestyle - is a prevalent adaptation mechanism in bacterial physiology. The commitment to biofilm formation relies on the bacterial second messenger c-di-GMP, enzymes for its synthesis and degradation, and receptors that translate second-messenger levels into physiological responses. Notably, the clearance of c-di-GMP, and in particular its linear di-GMP intermediate, intersects with the general RNA degradation pathway, suggesting a specific cellular function of the enzymes that process the smallest RNA breakdown products. Here, I will present our current understanding of the molecular principles acting at the intersection of c-di-GMP signaling and RNA metabolism.