Work

Bacterial Small-Molecule Signaling Pathways

Year: 2006

Type: review

Abstract: Bacteria use diverse small molecules for extra- and intracellular signaling. They scan small-molecule mixtures to access information about both their extracellular environment and their intracellular physiological status, and based on this information, they continuously interpret their circumstances and react rapidly to changes. Bacteria must integrate extra- and intracellular signaling information to mount appropriate responses to changes in their environment. We review recent research into two fundamental bacterial small-molecule signaling pathways: extracellular quorum-sensing signaling and intracellular cyclic dinucleotide signaling. We suggest how these two pathways may converge to control complex processes including multicellularity, biofilm formation, and virulence. We also outline new questions that have arisen from recent studies in these fields.

Source: Science

DOI: 10.1126/science.1121357

Authors: Andrew Camilli, Bonnie L. Bassler

Institutions: Tufts University, Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Princeton University

Language: English

Topic: Bacterial biofilms and quorum sensing

Subfield: Molecular Biology

Field: Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology

Domain: Life Sciences

Open Access status: green

Funders: Howard Hughes Medical Institute, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases

Award: Role of c-diGMP signaling in Vibrio cholerae virulence