Article of Significant Interest Selected from This Issue by the Editors

Structure of RbdA, a Regulator of Biofilm Dispersal of Pseudomonas aeruginosa

Understanding how proteins containing tandem GGDEF-EAL domains control c-di-GMP concentration is crucial for deciphering the mechanism of c-di-GMP signaling. Liu et al. (e00515-17) determined the crystal structure of the PAS-GGDEF-EAL portion of RbdA, a bifunctional protein that regulates dispersal of Pseudomonas aeruginosa biofilms. Together with biochemical data, the crystal structure points towards a highly flexible protein that undergoes dramatic structural rearrangements to control the activity of its GGDEF and EAL domains for c-di-GMP synthesis and degradation. This work sets the stage for a better understanding of the highly dynamic regulatory mechanism that underpins the biological functions of GGDEF-EAL-containing proteins.