Construction and analysis of luxCDABE-based plasmid sensors for investigating N-acyl homoserine lactone-mediated quorum sensing

FEMS Microbiol Lett. 1998 Jun 15;163(2):185-92. doi: 10.1111/j.1574-6968.1998.tb13044.x.

Abstract

Plasmid reporter vectors have been constructed which respond to activation of LuxR and its homologues LasR and RhlR (VsmR) by N-acyl homoserine lactones (AHLs). The expression of luxCDABE from transcriptional fusions to PluxI, PlasI and PrhlI respectively, occurs in the presence of activating AHLs. A profile of structure/activity relationships is seen where the natural ligand is most potent. The characterisation of individual LuxR homologue/AHL combinations allows a comprehensive evaluation of quorum sensing signals from a test organism.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • 4-Butyrolactone / analogs & derivatives*
  • 4-Butyrolactone / metabolism
  • Bacterial Proteins / genetics
  • Conjugation, Genetic
  • DNA-Binding Proteins / genetics
  • Escherichia coli / genetics
  • Escherichia coli / growth & development
  • Escherichia coli / physiology*
  • Gene Expression Regulation, Bacterial*
  • Genes, Reporter
  • Genetic Vectors
  • Luminescent Measurements
  • Plasmids / genetics*
  • Repressor Proteins / genetics*
  • Signal Transduction / genetics*
  • Structure-Activity Relationship
  • Trans-Activators / genetics*

Substances

  • Bacterial Proteins
  • DNA-Binding Proteins
  • LasR protein, Pseudomonas aeruginosa
  • Repressor Proteins
  • RhlR protein, Pseudomonas aeruginosa
  • Trans-Activators
  • LuxR autoinducer binding proteins
  • homoserine lactone
  • 4-Butyrolactone