title: Quorum sensing-controlled biofilm development in Serratia liquefaciens MG1.
abstract: Serratia liquefaciens MG1 contains an N-acylhomoserine lactone-mediated quorum-sensing system that is known to regulate swarming motility colonization. In this study, we describe for S. liquefaciens MG1 the development of a novel biofilm consisting of cell aggregates and differentiated cell types, such as cell chains and long filamentous cells. Furthermore, quorum sensing is shown to be crucial for normal biofilm development and for elaborate differentiation. A mutant of S. liquefaciens MG1 that was incapable of synthesizing extracellular signal formed a thin and nonmature biofilm lacking cell aggregates and differentiated cell chains. Signal-based complementation of this mutant resulted in a biofilm with the wild-type architecture. Two quorum-sensing-regulated genes (bsmA and bsmB) involved in biofilm development were identified, and we propose that these genes are engaged in fine-tuning the formation of cell aggregates at a specific point in biofilm development.
authors.affiliation: School of Biotechnology and Biomolecular Sciences, Centre for Marine Biofouling and Bio-Innovation, University of New South Wales, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.
authors.forename: Maurizio
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Labbate
authors.forename: Shu Yeong
authors.initials: SY
authors.lastname: Queck
authors.forename: Kai Shyang
authors.initials: KS
authors.lastname: Koh
authors.forename: Scott A
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Rice
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Givskov
authors.forename: Staffan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kjelleberg
mesh_terms: D015107:4-Butyrolactone / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000502:physiology; D018441:Biofilms / Q000254:growth & development*; D044090:Serratia liquefaciens / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: C104908:N-hexanoyl-L-homoserine lactone; D015107:4-Butyrolactone