title: Degradation of N-acylhomoserine lactones, the bacterial quorum-sensing molecules, by acylase.
abstract: Porcine kidney acylase I was shown to be able to deacylate N-acylhomoserine lactones, a family of chemicals employed by Gram-negative bacteria as quorum-sensing molecules for cell population density-dependent growth (such as biofilm formation). The enzyme transformed both N-butyryl-and N-octanoyl-L-homoserine lactones into L-homoserine. An optimal pH of 10 at 23 degrees C and an optimal temperature of 76 degrees C at pH 9 were found for the enzyme in hydrolyzing N-butyryl-homoserine lactone. At pH 9 and 23 degrees C, the enzymatic catalysis had a K(m) of 81+/-3 mM and a k(cat) of 127+/-2 nmol min(-1) per mg. The enzyme was also shown to be able to reduce the biofilm growth in an aquarium water sample. Potential physiological significance and medicinal/industrial applications of the N-acylhomoserine lactone-degrading activity of acylase are discussed.
authors.affiliation: Novozymes Biotech, Inc., 1445 Drew Avenue, Davis, CA 95616, USA. fxu@novozymes.com
authors.forename: Feng
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Xu
authors.forename: Tony
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Byun
authors.forename: Heinz-Josef
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Deussen
authors.forename: Kyle R
authors.initials: KR
authors.lastname: Duke
authors.forename: Heinz-Josef
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Dussen
mesh_terms: D015107:4-Butyrolactone / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000378:metabolism*; D000581:Amidohydrolases / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000494:pharmacology*; D001673:Biodegradation, Environmental; D018441:Biofilms / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000254:growth & development / Q000528:radiation effects; D002450:Cell Communication / Q000187:drug effects; D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; D008027:Light; D008567:Membranes, Artificial; D014871:Water Microbiology
chemical_list: D008567:Membranes, Artificial; C088386:homoserine lactone; D000581:Amidohydrolases; C019672:aminoacylase I; D015107:4-Butyrolactone