The molecule cyclic di-GMP plays a key role in controlling cellulose production and biofilm formation. To better understand cyclic di-GMP signaling pathways, the team developed the first chemiluminescent biosensor system for cyclic di-GMP and showed that it could be used to assay cyclic di-GMP in bacterial lysates. (Image courtesy of Hammond Lab, UC Berkeley)

(Image courtesy of Hammond Lab, UC Berkeley)

The molecule cyclic di-GMP is found in nearly all types of bacteria and interacts with cell signaling networks that control many basic cellular functions. It plays an important role in regulating microbial cellulose production and biofilm formation, which affects a number of environments, including plants, soil, and the gut. To better understand the dynamics of this molecule, researchers developed the first chemiluminescent biosensors for measuring cyclic di-GMP in bacteria through work enabled by the JGI’s Community Science Program (CSP).

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