Title | Vibrio harveyi quorum sensing: a coincidence detector for two autoinducers controls gene expression. |
Publication Type | Journal Article |
Year of Publication | 2003 |
Authors | Mok, KC, Wingreen, NS, Bassler, BL |
Journal | EMBO J |
Volume | 22 |
Issue | 4 |
Pagination | 870-81 |
Date Published | 2003 Feb 17 |
ISSN | 0261-4189 |
Keywords | 4-Butyrolactone, beta-Galactosidase, Gene Expression Regulation, Bacterial, Homoserine, Lactones, Signal Transduction, Vibrio |
Abstract | <p>In a process called quorum sensing, bacteria communicate with one another by exchanging chemical signals called autoinducers. In the bioluminescent marine bacterium Vibrio harveyi, two different auto inducers (AI-1 and AI-2) regulate light emission. Detection of and response to the V.harveyi autoinducers are accomplished through two two-component sensory relay systems: AI-1 is detected by the sensor LuxN and AI-2 by LuxPQ. Here we further define the V.harveyi quorum-sensing regulon by identifying 10 new quorum-sensing-controlled target genes. Our examination of signal processing and integration in the V.harveyi quorum-sensing circuit suggests that AI-1 and AI-2 act synergistically, and that the V.harveyi quorum-sensing circuit may function exclusively as a 'coincidence detector' that discriminates between conditions in which both autoinducers are present and all other conditions.</p> |
DOI | 10.1093/emboj/cdg085 |
Alternate Journal | EMBO J |
PubMed ID | 12574123 |
PubMed Central ID | PMC145445 |
Grant List | R01 GM065859 / GM / NIGMS NIH HHS / United States R37 GM065859 / GM / NIGMS NIH HHS / United States GM65859 / GM / NIGMS NIH HHS / United States |