Acyl homoserine-lactone quorum-sensing signal generation
Year: 1999
Type: article
Abstract: Acyl homoserine lactones (acyl-HSLs) are important intercellular signaling molecules used by many bacteria to monitor their population density in quorum-sensing control of gene expression. These signals are synthesized by members of the LuxI family of proteins. To understand the mechanism of acyl-HSL synthesis we have purified the Pseudomonas aeruginosa RhlI protein and analyzed the kinetics of acyl-HSL synthesis by this enzyme. Purified RhlI catalyzes the synthesis of acyl-HSLs from acyl-acyl carrier proteins and S-adenosylmethionine. An analysis of the patterns of product inhibition indicated that RhlI catalyzes signal synthesis by a sequential, ordered reaction mechanism in which S-adenosylmethionine binds to RhlI as the initial step in the enzymatic mechanism. Because pathogenic bacteria such as P. aeruginosa use acyl-HSL signals to regulate virulence genes, an understanding of the mechanism of signal synthesis and identification of inhibitors of signal synthesis has implications for development of quorum sensing-targeted antivirulence molecules.
Language: English
Subfield: Molecular Biology
Domain: Life Sciences
Open Access status: green
Awards: Quorum Sensing in Vibrio fischeri: Cell Density Regulation in Global Control of Gene Expression, GENETIC APPROACHES TO REGULATION OF LIPID METABOLISM, G4903171077, AUTOINDUCER SYNTHASE, RH1I, Genetic Approaches to Lipid Metabolism, Predoctoral Training Program in Biotechnology, G606696934, G646640678, G9000279694
OpenAlex ID: W2002317558