title: Bacterial N-acyl-homoserine-lactone-dependent signalling and its potential biotechnological applications.
abstract: N-acyl homoserine lactones are bacterial signalling molecules involved in regulating diverse metabolic functions, particularly those relating to virulence, in concert with cell density. Each aspect of the signalling pathway, from production and recognition of the signal to expression of the target genes, offers a potential opportunity for exploitation. Attention is now focusing on the development of novel methods for bacterial enumeration, modulation of bacterial virulence and flexible, coordinated expression of heterologous genes through the use of N-acyl-homoserine-lactone-based systems.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry, University of Cambridge, UK. gpcs@mole.bio.cam.ac.uk
authors.forename: N D
authors.initials: ND
authors.lastname: Robson
authors.forename: A R
authors.initials: AR
authors.lastname: Cox
authors.forename: S J
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: McGowan
authors.forename: B W
authors.initials: BW
authors.lastname: Bycroft
authors.forename: G P
authors.initials: GP
authors.lastname: Salmond
mesh_terms: D001419:Bacteria / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000472:pathogenicity; D015964:Gene Expression Regulation, Bacterial; D006714:Homoserine / Q000031:analogs & derivatives*; D007783:Lactones / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism*; D015398:Signal Transduction
chemical_list: D007783:Lactones; D006714:Homoserine