Department of Biology and Biochemistry, The University of Bath, Claverton Down, Bath BA2 7AY, UK.
Curr Biol. 2010 Jan 12;20(1):R13-5. doi: 10.1016/j.cub.2009.11.018.
How does a quiescent symbiont of a nematode worm know when to turn nasty? Metabolic analysis and genetic knockouts confirm that model insect pathogens can sense L-proline in insect blood. This not only serves as a wake-up call, activating secondary metabolite virulence factors, but also provides an energy source for a metabolic shift appropriate for adaptation to the host environment.
线虫静止共生体何时会变得具有危害性?代谢分析和基因敲除证实,模式昆虫病原体能够感知昆虫血液中的 L-脯氨酸。这不仅是一种唤醒信号,激活次级代谢毒性因子,还为适应宿主环境的代谢转变提供了能量来源。