L. monocytogenes is a gram-positive intracellular foodborne pathogen that causes potentially deadly disease listeriosis in immunocompromised individuals. Using data from databases PDB, Uniprot and MEDLINE, we have made an overview and functional classification of L. monocytogenes proteins with solved 3D structure. Based on overview we have described in detail the biological function of key virulence factors that help internalize L. monocytogenes into host cells and successfully evade host immune system. Also important are cyclic nucleotides, which play an important role in progression of host colonization and precise coordination of metabolism and virulence factors. While c-di-AMP has been given much interest in recent years and its role has been described in detail, the presence of secondary messenger c-di-GMP in L. monocytogenes has been only recently discovered. By using bioinformatic tool BLAST and reviewing of scientific literature we have examined the function of poorly annotated proteins within PDB and Uniprot databases. We have identified three proteins with interesting biological function. Lmo2119 indirectly regulates intracellular concentrations of c-di-AMP. Both, Lmo0131 and Lmo0111, are phosphodiesterases that were shown to degrade c-di-GMP. Furthermore, based on functional annotations within PDB and UniProt databases, conserved domains and 3D structure, we have identified two proteins with unknown function (lmo2462 or DGC and lmo0740) that could have potential role in binding cyclic nucleotides. However, their function remains to be determined experimentally.
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