Abstract
Bacteria have been widely reported to use quorum sensing (QS) systems, which employ small diffusible metabolites to coordinate gene expression in a population density dependent manner. In Proteobacteria, the most commonly described QS signaling molecules are N-acyl-homoserine lactones (AHLs). Recent studies suggest that members of the abundant marine Roseobacter lineage possess AHL-based QS systems and are environmentally relevant models for relating QS to ecological success. As reviewed here, these studies suggest that the roles of QS in roseobacters are varied and complex. An analysis of the 43 publically available Roseobacter genomes shows conservation of QS protein sequences and overall gene topologies, providing support for the hypothesis that QS is a conserved and widespread trait in the clade.
Highlights
When acting as coordinated communities, bacterial populations are able to influence their local environment in manners that are unachievable by individual cells
It has been widely reported that phylogentically diverse bacteria use genetic regulatory systems, known as quorum sensing (QS) systems, to coordinate gene expression in a population density dependent manner (e.g., Fuqua et al, 2001; Pappas et al, 2004; Case et al, 2008; Ng and Bassler, 2009)
LuxR-like proteins are response regulators that mediate the expression of genes required for communal behavior in response to intracellular concentrations of cognate acyl-homoserine lactones (AHLs) (Fuqua and Winans, 1994; Fuqua et al, 1996)
Summary
When acting as coordinated communities, bacterial populations are able to influence their local environment in manners that are unachievable by individual cells. Canonical AHL-QS systems produce and respond to AHLs using two proteins that mediate signal production and response, LuxI and LuxR-like proteins, respectively (Nealson et al, 1970; Ruby, 1996). The genes encoding these two proteins are often located adjacent to one another on the chromosome (Fuqua et al, 1996; Churchill and Chen, 2011; Gelencsér et al, 2012). Subsequent studies further demonstrated that roseobacters are prolific colonizers of a variety of marine surfaces, both www.frontiersin.org
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