Magic spot: (p) ppGpp

Guanosine 5'-(tri)diphosphate, 3'-diphosphate [(p) ppGpp] is a small nucleic acid that helps bacteria survive in limited environments. Gene chip shows that (p) ppGpp is a global transcription-regulator of genes related to important bacterial metabolic processes. Therefore, more attention should be focused on the molecular mechanisms of (p) ppGpp, as it is the foundation to understanding how bacteria adapt to extreme circumstances through the stringent response.