Dipicolinic acid

Dipicolinic acid[1]
IUPAC name Pyridine-2,6-dicarboxylic acid
Other names 2,6-Pyridinedicarboxylic acid
Identifiers
CAS number	499-83-2 Y
PubChem	10367
ChemSpider	9940 Y
DrugBank	DB04267
ChEBI	CHEBI:46837 Y
ChEMBL	CHEMBL284104 Y
Jmol-3D images	Image 1
SMILES c1cc(nc(c1)C(=O)O)C(=O)O
InChI InChI=1S/C7H5NO4/c9-6(10)4-2-1-3-5(8-4)7(11)12/h1-3H,(H,9,10)(H,11,12) Y Key: WJJMNDUMQPNECX-UHFFFAOYSA-N Y InChI=1/C7H5NO4/c9-6(10)4-2-1-3-5(8-4)7(11)12/h1-3H,(H,9,10)(H,11,12) Key: WJJMNDUMQPNECX-UHFFFAOYAM
Properties
Molecular formula	C7H5NO4
Molar mass	167.1189
Melting point	248-250 °C
Hazards
R-phrases	R36/37/38
S-phrases	S26 S36
Main hazards	Irritant (Xi)
Y (verify) (what is: Y/N?) Except where noted otherwise, data are given for materials in their standard state (at 25 °C, 100 kPa)
Infobox references

Dipicolinic acid (pyridine-2,6-dicarboxylic acid or PDC) is a chemical compound which composes 5% to 15% of the dry weight of bacterial spores.^[2][3] It is implicated as responsible for the heat resistance of the endospore.^[2][4]

However, mutants resistant to heat but lacking dipicolinic acid have been isolated, suggesting other mechanisms contributing to heat resistance are at work.^[5]

Two genera of bacteria are known to produce endospores: the aerobic Bacillus and anaerobic Clostridium.^[6]

A Jet Propulsion Laboratory chemist has developed technology to perform high speed, large area assessments of sterilization by searching for dipicolinic acid as an indicator of spores, being the hardiest of life forms. Spacecraft cleanliness can more rapidly be ascertained, as well as the sterility of medical equipment and facilities.^{[citation needed]}

References

1. ^ 2,6-Pyridinedicarboxylic acid at Sigma-Aldrich
2. ^ ^{a b} Sliemandagger, TA., Nicholson, WL. (2001). Role of Dipicolinic Acid in Survival of Bacillus subtilis Spores Exposed to Artificial and Solar UV Radiation. Applied and Environmental Microbiology 67(3). 1274-1279
3. ^ Sci-Tech Dictionary. McGraw-Hill Dictionary of Scientific and Technical Terms, McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.
4. ^ Madigan, M., J Martinko, J. Parker (2003). Brock Biology of Microorganisms, 10th edition. Pearson Education, Inc., ISBN 981-247-118-9.
5. ^ Prescott, L. (1993). Microbiology, Wm. C. Brown Publishers, ISBN 0-697-01372-3.
6. ^ Gladwin, M. (2008). Clinical Microbiology Made Ridiculously Simple, MedMaster, Inc., ISBN 0-940780-81-X.

External links

• JPL Develops High-Speed Test to Improve Pathogen Decontamination at JPL.
• Spotting Spores at Astrobiology Magazine.