title: The plant pathogen Erwinia amylovora produces acyl-homoserine lactone signal molecules in vitro and in planta.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Bacteriology Group, International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, Area Science Park, Padriciano 99, 34012 Trieste, Italy. venturi@icgeb.org
authors.forename: Vittorio
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Venturi
authors.forename: Chiara
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Venuti
authors.forename: Giulia
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Devescovi
authors.forename: Carla
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Lucchese
authors.forename: Arianna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Friscina
authors.forename: Giuliano
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Degrassi
authors.forename: Claudio
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Aguilar
authors.forename: Umberto
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Mazzucchi
mesh_terms: 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
chemical_list: C088386:homoserine lactone; D015107:4-Butyrolactone