Involvement of N-acyl-L-hormoserine lactone autoinducers in controlling the multicellular behaviour of Serratia liquefaciens

TY - JOUR

T1 - Involvement of N-acyl-L-hormoserine lactone autoinducers in controlling the multicellular behaviour of Serratia liquefaciens

AU - Eberl, Leo

AU - Winson, M K

AU - Sternberg, Claus

AU - Stewart, G S

AU - Christiansen, G

AU - Chhabra, S R

AU - Bycroft, B

AU - Williams, Poul Frederick

AU - Molin, Søren

AU - Givskov, M

PY - 1996

Y1 - 1996

N2 - Several bacterial species possess the ability to differentiate into highly motile swarmer cells capable of rapid surface colonization. In Serratia liquefaciens, we demonstrate that initiation of swarmer-cell differentiation involves diffusible signal molecules that are released into the growth medium. Using high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), high resolution mass spectrometry and nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy, we identified N-butanoyl-L-homoserine lactone (BHL) and N-hex anoyl-L-homoserine lactone (HHL) in cell-free Serratia culture supernatants. BHL and HHL are present in a ratio of approximately 10:1 and their structures were unequivocally confirmed by chemical synthesis. The swrl (swarmer initiation) gene, the predicted translation product of which exhibits substantial homology to the LuxI family of putative N-acyl homoserine lactone (AHL) synthases is responsible for directing synthesis of both BHL and HHL. In an swrl mutant, swarming motility is abolished but can be restored by the addition of an exogenous AHL. These results add swarming motility to the rapidly expanding list of phenotypes known to be controlled through quorum sensing.

AB - Several bacterial species possess the ability to differentiate into highly motile swarmer cells capable of rapid surface colonization. In Serratia liquefaciens, we demonstrate that initiation of swarmer-cell differentiation involves diffusible signal molecules that are released into the growth medium. Using high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), high resolution mass spectrometry and nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy, we identified N-butanoyl-L-homoserine lactone (BHL) and N-hex anoyl-L-homoserine lactone (HHL) in cell-free Serratia culture supernatants. BHL and HHL are present in a ratio of approximately 10:1 and their structures were unequivocally confirmed by chemical synthesis. The swrl (swarmer initiation) gene, the predicted translation product of which exhibits substantial homology to the LuxI family of putative N-acyl homoserine lactone (AHL) synthases is responsible for directing synthesis of both BHL and HHL. In an swrl mutant, swarming motility is abolished but can be restored by the addition of an exogenous AHL. These results add swarming motility to the rapidly expanding list of phenotypes known to be controlled through quorum sensing.

M3 - Journal article

C2 - 8861211

SN - 0950-382X

VL - 20

SP - 127

EP - 136

JO - Molecular Microbiology

JF - Molecular Microbiology

IS - 1

ER -