The second messenger c-di-AMP controls natural competence via ComFB signaling protein

Sherihan Samir; Sofía Doello; Andreas M. Enkerlin; Erik Zimmer; Michael C. Haffner; Teresa Aileen Muller; Lisa Dengler; Stilianos Papadopoulos Lambidis; Shamphavi Sivabalasarma; Sonja‐Verena Albers; Khaled A. Selim

doi:10.1038/s41421-025-00816-x

MicrobiologyCell DiscoveryAug 1, 2025

Peer-reviewed journal article

The second messenger c-di-AMP controls natural competence via ComFB signaling protein

Sherihan Samir iD, Sofía Doello iD, Andreas M. Enkerlin iD, Erik Zimmer iD, Michael C. Haffner iD, Teresa Aileen Muller iD, Lisa Dengler iD, Stilianos Papadopoulos Lambidis iD, Shamphavi Sivabalasarma iD, Sonja‐Verena Albers iD, Khaled A. Selim iD

Abstract

Natural competence requires a contractile pilus system. Here, we provide evidence that the pilus biogenesis and natural competence in cyanobacteria are regulated by the second messenger c-di-AMP. Furthermore, we show that the ComFB signaling protein is a novel c-di-AMP-receptor protein, widespread in bacterial phyla, and required for pilus biogenesis and DNA uptake.

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