Sensitivity of the quorum sensing system is achieved by low pass filtering

Biosystems. 2008 Apr;92(1):76-81. doi: 10.1016/j.biosystems.2007.12.004. Epub 2007 Dec 25.

Abstract

Autoinducer sensing, also known as quorum sensing, is the communication of bacteria by autoinducer (small signaling molecules). Cells respond on extremely low concentrations of autoinducer: only one or two molecules per cell are sufficient. At this signal level a high degree of noise is inherent. We ask for the mechanism that is able to overcome the stochasticity of the signal. By means of a model and parameter fitting we show that the sensing module acts as a low pass filter, representing the biochemical equivalent of a moving average. It is shown that the system works most sensitive in the range of 0-50 nM autoinducer. Moreover, the time scale of the reaction depends on the signal strength in a crucial manner. Nonlinear feedback is able to further enhance the sensitivity. The biological implications of the low pass filter property are discussed.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Aliivibrio fischeri / physiology
  • Models, Biological
  • Quorum Sensing*