Parallel quorum sensing systems converge to regulate virulence in Vibrio cholerae. Author Melissa Miller, Karen Skorupski, Derrick Lenz, Ronald Taylor, Bonnie Bassler Publication Year 2002 Type Journal Article Abstract The marine bacterium Vibrio harveyi possesses two quorum sensing systems (System 1 and System 2) that regulate bioluminescence. Although the Vibrio cholerae genome sequence reveals that a V. harveyi-like System 2 exists, it does not predict the existence of a V. harveyi-like System 1 or any obvious quorum sensing-controlled target genes. In this report we identify and characterize the genes encoding an additional V. cholerae autoinducer synthase and its cognate sensor. Analysis of double mutants indicates that a third as yet unidentified sensory circuit exists in V. cholerae. This quorum sensing apparatus is unusually complex, as it is composed of at least three parallel signaling channels. We show that in V. cholerae these communication systems converge to control virulence. Keywords Gene Expression Regulation, Bacterial, Repressor Proteins, Trans-Activators, Vibrio cholerae, Bacterial Proteins, 4-Butyrolactone, Signal Transduction, Virulence, DNA, Bacterial, Phosphoproteins, Cell Communication, Luminescent Proteins Journal Cell Volume 110 Issue 3 Pages 303-14 Date Published 2002 Aug 09 ISSN Number 0092-8674 DOI 10.1016/s0092-8674(02)00829-2 Alternate Journal Cell PMID 12176318 PubMedGoogle ScholarBibTeXEndNote X3 XML