The plant pathogen Erwinia amylovora produces acyl-homoserine lactone signal molecules in vitro and in planta.
We report for the first time the production of acyl homoserine lactones (AHLs) by Erwina amylovora, an important quarantine bacterial pathogen that causes fire blight in plants. E. amylovora produces one N-acyl homoserine lactone [a N-(3-oxo-hexanoyl)-homoserine lactone or a N-(3-hydroxy-hexanoyl)-homoserine lactone] quorum sensing signal molecule both in vitro and in planta (pear plant). Given the involvement of AHLs in plant pathogenesis, we speculate that AHL-dependent quorum sensing could play an important role in the regulation of E. amylovora virulence.
Venturi
Vittorio
V
Bacteriology Group, International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, Area Science Park, Padriciano 99, 34012 Trieste, Italy. venturi@icgeb.org
Venuti
Chiara
C
Devescovi
Giulia
G
Lucchese
Carla
C
Friscina
Arianna
A
Degrassi
Giuliano
G
Aguilar
Claudio
C
Mazzucchi
Umberto
U
D015107:4-Butyrolactone / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D044084:Erwinia amylovora / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism / Q000472:pathogenicity*; D015964:Gene Expression Regulation, Bacterial; D010935:Plant Diseases / Q000382:microbiology*; D031989:Pyrus / Q000382:microbiology*; D015398:Signal Transduction; D014774:Virulence
C088386:homoserine lactone; D015107:4-Butyrolactone