In bacteria and archaea the enzyme's product, cCMP, functions as a second messenger in bacterial immunity against viruses. The enzyme is synthesized following phage infection and activates immune effectors that execute an antiviral response.
Tal N, Morehouse BR, Millman A, Stokar-Avihail A, Avraham C, Fedorenko T, Yirmiya E, Herbst E, Brandis A, Mehlman T, Oppenheimer-Shaanan Y, Keszei AFA, Shao S, Amitai G, Kranzusch PJ, Sorek R.
Title
Cyclic CMP and cyclic UMP mediate bacterial immunity against phages.