Abstract
Quorum sensing is a process of cell-to-cell communication that bacteria use to orchestrate collective behaviors. Quorum sensing depends on the production, release, and detection of extracellular signal molecules called autoinducers (AIs) that accumulate with increasing cell density. While most AIs are species specific, the AI called AI-2 is produced and detected by diverse bacterial species, and it mediates interspecies communication. We recently reported that mammalian cells produce an AI-2 mimic that can be detected by bacteria through the AI-2 receptor LuxP, potentially expanding the role of the AI-2 system to interdomain communication. Here, we describe a second molecule capable of interdomain signaling through LuxP, 4-hydroxy-5-methylfuran-3(2H)-one (MHF), that is produced by the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae Screening the S. cerevisiae deletion collection revealed Cff1p, a protein with no known role, to be required for MHF production. Cff1p is proposed to be an enzyme, with structural similarity to sugar isomerases and epimerases, and substitution at the putative catalytic residue eliminated MHF production in S. cerevisiae Sequence analysis uncovered Cff1p homologs in many species, primarily bacterial and fungal, but also viral, archaeal, and higher eukaryotic. Cff1p homologs from organisms from all domains can complement a cff1ΔS. cerevisiae mutant and restore MHF production. In all cases tested, the identified catalytic residue is conserved and required for MHF to be produced. These findings increase the scope of possibilities for interdomain interactions via AI-2 and AI-2 mimics, highlighting the breadth of molecules and organisms that could participate in quorum sensing.IMPORTANCE Quorum sensing is a cell-to-cell communication process that bacteria use to monitor local population density. Quorum sensing relies on extracellular signal molecules called autoinducers (AIs). One AI called AI-2 is broadly made by bacteria and used for interspecies communication. Here, we describe a eukaryotic AI-2 mimic, 4-hydroxy-5-methylfuran-3(2H)-one, (MHF), that is made by the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae, and we identify the Cff1p protein as essential for MHF production. Hundreds of viral, archaeal, bacterial, and eukaryotic organisms possess Cff1p homologs. This finding, combined with our results showing that homologs from all domains can replace S. cerevisiae Cff1p, suggests that like AI-2, MHF is widely produced. Our results expand the breadth of organisms that may participate in quorum-sensing-mediated interactions.
Highlights
Quorum sensing is a process of cell-to-cell communication that bacteria use to orchestrate collective behaviors
We previously reported that human tissue culture cells of epithelial origin, when starved or subjected to tight junction disruption, produce a mimic of the bacterial quorum-sensing AI called AI-2 [13]
Quorum sensing is the process by which bacteria monitor their local cell population density and determine when it is appropriate to engage in collective behaviors [1,2,3]
Summary
Quorum sensing is a process of cell-to-cell communication that bacteria use to orchestrate collective behaviors. Quorum sensing depends on the production, release, and detection of extracellular signal molecules called autoinducers (AIs) that accumulate with increasing cell density. The identified catalytic residue is conserved and required for MHF to be produced These findings increase the scope of possibilities for interdomain interactions via AI-2 and AI-2 mimics, highlighting the breadth of molecules and organisms that could participate in quorum sensing. Bacteria use chemical communication to gauge local cell population density This process, called quorum sensing, relies on the production, release, accumulation, March/April 2021 Volume 12 Issue 2 e03303-20. Yeast Produce MHF, an AI-2 Mimic and detection of extracellular signal molecules called autoinducers (AIs) (for recent reviews, see references 1–3). Human epithelial cells secrete an AI-2 mimic (here designated “mammalian AI-2 mimic”) of unknown structure that can be detected by LuxP, suggesting that the AI-2 signaling pathway could underpin interdomain communication [13]
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
