DNA microarray-based identification of genes controlled by autoinducer 2-stimulated quorum sensing in Escherichia coli.
Bacterial cell-to-cell communication facilitates coordinated expression of specific genes in a growth rate-II and cell density-dependent manner, a process known as quorum sensing. While the discovery of a diffusible Escherichia coli signaling pheromone, termed autoinducer 2 (AI-2), has been made along with several quorum sensing genes, the overall number and coordination of genes controlled by quorum sensing through the AI-2 signal has not been studied systematically. We investigated global changes in mRNA abundance elicited by the AI-2 signaling molecule through the use of a luxS mutant that was unable to synthesize AI-2. Remarkably, 242 genes, comprising ca. 5.6% of the E. coli genome, exhibited significant transcriptional changes (either induction or repression) in response to a 300-fold AI-2 signaling differential, with many of the identified genes displaying high induction levels (more than fivefold). Significant induction of ygeV, a putative sigma(54)-dependent transcriptional activator, and yhbH, a sigma(54) modulating protein, suggests sigma(54) may be involved in E. coli quorum sensing.
DeLisa
M P
MP
Center for Agricultural Biotechnology, University of Maryland Biotechnology Institute, University of Maryland, College Park, Maryland 20742, USA.
Wu
C F
CF
Wang
L
L
Valdes
J J
JJ
Bentley
W E
WE
D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D001426:Bacterial Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D017077:Culture Media, Conditioned; D004926:Escherichia coli / Q000235:genetics* / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism; D020869:Gene Expression Profiling; D015964:Gene Expression Regulation, Bacterial; D006714:Homoserine / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D015151:Immunoblotting; D007783:Lactones / Q000378:metabolism*; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D020411:Oligonucleotide Array Sequence Analysis; D016366:Open Reading Frames / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology; D015398:Signal Transduction
D001426:Bacterial Proteins; D017077:Culture Media, Conditioned; D007783:Lactones; C091088:N-octanoylhomoserine lactone; D006714:Homoserine