The cyclic-di-guanosine monophosphate (c-di-GMP) assay is a simple mix-and- read, highly selective, HTS-ready assay to measure c-di-GMP levels in cells. This homogenous assay can be used to detect c-di-GMP in any biochemical or enzymatic reaction that produces c-di-GMP or in cell-based applications to monitor intracellular c-di-GMP concentrations.
The evolution of the fluorescent signal is dependent on the initial binding of c-di-GMP to the c-di-GMP riboswitch in the sensor. This results in the stabilization of the SpinachTM aptamer, which in turn binds DFHBI-1T to produce fluorescence. The fluorescence can be measured using GFP/FITC filter sets or with excitation at 482nm and emission at 505nm.
The c-di-GMP assay is easy-to-use and homogenous. Simply incubate your samples with the provided assay reagents for 30 min and read the samples on a fluorescence plate reader with FITC/GFP filter or excitation wavelength 482nm and emission wavelength 505nm.
The c-di-GMP sensor produces signals rapidly upon c-di-GMP detection, and thus allows fast measurement. The fluorescent signal is stable over time and thus allows batch-mode processing of samples. Excellent HTS parameters are attained as early as 30 min of assay setup and remain high for a prolonged period of time.
The assay is sensitive even at 50nM of c-di-GMP and has a broad dynamic range.
The c-di-GMP sensor is highly selective for c-di-GMP with no interference from common counter ligands.
The assay achieves excellent HTS assay parameter (Z factor >0.9) even when compared with 500 – 1,000-fold excess of counter ligands such as GMP, pGpG, and c-AMP-GMP.
The c-di-GMP assay can be used to measure intracellular c-di-GMP concentrations in bacteria in a homogenous format without pelleting, lysis, or wash steps. Simply supplement the assay buffer containing bacterial culture with BC reagent, add sensors and fluorophores, incubate for 30 min, and read on a fluorescence reader.
E.coli cells expressing wild type WspR (a diguanylate cyclase from Pseudomonas aeruginosa) were treated with nitrofurazone (antibiotic), dimethyl formamide/DMF (carrier), or left untreated (control). In addition, the bacteria were also plated at varying cell densities to simulate varying c-di-GMP levels. Cyclic-di-GMP concentrations in bacterial cells growing in a 96-well plate were measured without any pelleting, washes, lysis, or organic extraction.
c-di-GMP Standard Curve
Presence of antibiotic or carrier did not affect the performance of the c-di-GMP assay.
c-di-GMP Estimate in WT WspR Cells
The c-di-GMP assay shows the changes in c-di-GMP concentrations in bacteria in response to antibiotic treatment and varying bacterial cell densities.
Condensins are essential for Pseudomonas aeruginosa corneal virulence through their control of lifestyle and virulence programs. Zhao H et al. Mol Microbiol. 2022.
Cyclic-di-GMP signaling links biofilm formation and Mn(II) oxidation in Pseudomonas resinovoran. Piazza A et al. ASM J mBio. 2022.
Vibrio parahaemolyticus and Vibrio vulnificus in vitro biofilm dispersal from microplastics influenced by simulated human environment. Leighton RE et al. Front. Microbiol. 2023.
Superoxide dismutase A (SodA) is a c-di-GMP effector protein governing oxidative stress tolerance in Stenotrophomonas maltophilia. Sun XY et al. Microbiol Res. 2024.
BrfA functions as a bacterial enhancer-binding protein to regulate functional amyloid Fap-dependent biofilm formation in Pseudomonas fluorescens by sensing cyclic diguanosine monophosphate. Guo M et al. Microbiol Res. 2024