Physiological roles of bacillithiol in intracellular metal processing

Rosario-Cruz, Zuelay; Boyd, Jeffrey M.

doi:10.1007/s00294-015-0511-0

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Published: 11 August 2015

Physiological roles of bacillithiol in intracellular metal processing

Zuelay Rosario-Cruz¹ &
Jeffrey M. Boyd¹

Current Genetics volume 62, pages 59–65 (2016)Cite this article

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Abstract

Glutathione (GSH) is an abundantly produced low-molecular-weight (LMW) thiol in many organisms. However, a number of Gram-positive bacteria do not produce GSH, but instead produce bacillithiol (BSH) as one of the major LMW thiols. Similar to GSH, studies have found that BSH has various roles in the cell, including protection against hydrogen peroxide, hypochlorite and disulfide stress. BSH also participates in the detoxification of thiol-reactive antibiotics and the electrophilic metabolite methylglyoxal. Recently, a number of studies have highlighted additional roles for BSH in the processing of intracellular metals. Herein, we examine the potential functions of BSH in the biogenesis of Fe–S clusters, cytosolic metal buffering and the prevention of metal intoxication.

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Abbreviations

GSH:: Glutathione
BSH:: Bacillithiol
DIP:: 2,2-Dipyridyl

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Acknowledgments

The authors would like to thank Rutgers University and the United States Department of Agriculture (MRF project NE–1028) for funding.

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Authors and Affiliations

Department of Biochemistry and Microbiology, Rutgers University, 76 Lipman Drive, New Brunswick, NJ, 08901, USA
Zuelay Rosario-Cruz & Jeffrey M. Boyd

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Zuelay Rosario-Cruz
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Jeffrey M. Boyd
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Correspondence to Jeffrey M. Boyd.

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Communicated by M. Kupiec.

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Rosario-Cruz, Z., Boyd, J.M. Physiological roles of bacillithiol in intracellular metal processing. Curr Genet 62, 59–65 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00294-015-0511-0

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Received: 23 July 2015
Revised: 24 July 2015
Accepted: 25 July 2015
Published: 11 August 2015
Issue Date: February 2016
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00294-015-0511-0

Keywords

Low-molecular-weight thiols
Bacillithiol
Iron-sulfur cluster
Iron
Zinc
Manganese
Copper