Vibrio harveyi quorum sensing: a coincidence detector for two autoinducers controls gene expression

EMBO J. 2003 Feb 17;22(4):870-81. doi: 10.1093/emboj/cdg085.

Abstract

In a process called quorum sensing, bacteria communicate with one another by exchanging chemical signals called autoinducers. In the bioluminescent marine bacterium Vibrio harveyi, two different auto inducers (AI-1 and AI-2) regulate light emission. Detection of and response to the V.harveyi autoinducers are accomplished through two two-component sensory relay systems: AI-1 is detected by the sensor LuxN and AI-2 by LuxPQ. Here we further define the V.harveyi quorum-sensing regulon by identifying 10 new quorum-sensing-controlled target genes. Our examination of signal processing and integration in the V.harveyi quorum-sensing circuit suggests that AI-1 and AI-2 act synergistically, and that the V.harveyi quorum-sensing circuit may function exclusively as a 'coincidence detector' that discriminates between conditions in which both autoinducers are present and all other conditions.

Publication types

  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • 4-Butyrolactone / analogs & derivatives*
  • 4-Butyrolactone / physiology*
  • Gene Expression Regulation, Bacterial / physiology*
  • Homoserine / analogs & derivatives*
  • Homoserine / physiology*
  • Lactones
  • Signal Transduction / physiology
  • Vibrio / genetics
  • Vibrio / physiology*
  • beta-Galactosidase / metabolism

Substances

  • Lactones
  • N-octanoylhomoserine lactone
  • Homoserine
  • N-(3-oxohexanoyl)-3-aminodihydro-2(3H)-furanone
  • beta-Galactosidase
  • 4-Butyrolactone