Aspartate
An amino acid that serves as a key signaling molecule in bacterial chemotaxis and as a neurotransmitter in mammals. One of the primary chemical attractants that bacteria like E. coli swim toward.
Biological Context
In bacterial chemotaxis, aspartate is a powerful attractant—E. coli can detect changes in aspartate concentration as small as a few parts per million and swim toward higher concentrations. In mammals, aspartate functions as an excitatory neurotransmitter and plays roles in the urea cycle and nucleotide synthesis.
Business Application
Aspartate represents a 'north star' signal—a chemical that bacteria prioritize above most others. Organizations need equivalent clarity: which signals should override everything else? For startups, it's often user engagement. For enterprises, it might be customer retention. The key is having few attractants, not many.