title: Gram-negative bacterial communication by N-acyl homoserine lactones: a universal language?
abstract: The ability of bacterial cells to use small signalling molecules to monitor population growth may help them to react rapidly to environmental change. Regulatory systems made up of a small sensor molecule, an N-acyl homoserine lactone and a protein effector have been identified recently in a wide range of Gram-negative bacteria. These mediate signal cascades that amplify and coordinate the induction of single or multiple regulons.
authors.affiliation: Dept of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Nottingham, UK.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Swift
authors.forename: N J
authors.initials: NJ
authors.lastname: Bainton
authors.forename: M K
authors.initials: MK
authors.lastname: Winson
mesh_terms: D015107:4-Butyrolactone / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000378:metabolism; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D006090:Gram-Negative Bacteria / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D008163:Luminescent Measurements; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: C088386:homoserine lactone; D015107:4-Butyrolactone