Bacterial utilization of L-sugars and D-amino acids

Elena V. Pikuta, Richard B. Hoover, Brig Klyce, Paul C.W. Davies, Pauline Davies

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingConference contribution

13 Scopus citations

Abstract

The fact that organotrophic organisms on Earth use L-amino acids and D-sugars as an energy source is recognized as one of the universal features of life. The chirality of organic molecules with asymmetric location of group-radicals was described a relatively long time ago. Louis Pasteur observed that abiotic (chemical) processes produced mixtures with equal numbers (racemic) of the two forms but that living organisms possessed a molecular asymmetry that included only one of the enantiomers (homochirality). He speculated that the origin of the asymmetry of chiral biomolecules might hold the key to the nature of life. All of the amino acids in proteins (except for Glycine which is symmetrical) exhibit the same absolute steric configuration as L-glyceraldehyde. D-amino acids are never found in proteins, although they do exist in nature and are often found in polypeptide antibiotics. Constitutional sugars of cells, opposite to the amino acids, are the D-enantiomers, and the appearance of L-sugars in Nature is extremely rare. Notwithstanding this fact, the metabolism of some bacteria does have the capability to use amino acids and sugars with alternative chirality. This property may be caused by the function of specific enzymes belonging to the class of isomerases (racemases, epimerases, isomerases, tautomerases). In our laboratory, we have investigated several anaerobic bacterial strains, and have found that some of these bacteria are capable of using D-amino acids and L-sugars. Strain BK1 is capable of growth on D-arginine, but its growth characteristics on L-arginine are approximately twice as high. Another alkaliphilic strain SCAT (= ATCC BAA-1084T = JCM 12857T = DSM 17722T = CIP 107910T) was found to be capable of growth on L-ribose and L-arabinose. It is interesting that this strain was incapable of growth on D-arabinose, which suggests the involvement of some alternative mechanism of enzyme activity. In this paper, we describe the preliminary results of these microbiological studies and discuss some possible implications.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Title of host publicationInstruments, Methods, and Missions for Astrobiology IX
DOIs
StatePublished - 2006
Externally publishedYes
EventInstruments, Methods, and Missions for Astrobiology IX - San Diego, CA, United States
Duration: Aug 14 2006Aug 15 2006

Publication series

NameProceedings of SPIE - The International Society for Optical Engineering
Volume6309
ISSN (Print)0277-786X

Other

OtherInstruments, Methods, and Missions for Astrobiology IX
Country/TerritoryUnited States
CitySan Diego, CA
Period8/14/068/15/06

Keywords

  • Anaerobic alkaliphiles
  • Biomarkers
  • Chirality
  • D-amino acids
  • L-sugars

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Electronic, Optical and Magnetic Materials
  • Condensed Matter Physics
  • Computer Science Applications
  • Applied Mathematics
  • Electrical and Electronic Engineering

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