Bacterial small-molecule signaling pathways.
Bacteria use diverse small molecules for extra- and intracellular signaling. They scan small-molecule mixtures to access information about both their extracellular environment and their intracellular physiological status, and based on this information, they continuously interpret their circumstances and react rapidly to changes. Bacteria must integrate extra- and intracellular signaling information to mount appropriate responses to changes in their environment. We review recent research into two fundamental bacterial small-molecule signaling pathways: extracellular quorum-sensing signaling and intracellular cyclic dinucleotide signaling. We suggest how these two pathways may converge to control complex processes including multicellularity, biofilm formation, and virulence. We also outline new questions that have arisen from recent studies in these fields.
Camilli
Andrew
A
Howard Hughes Medical Institute, 136 Harrison Avenue, Boston, MA 02111-1817, USA.
Bassler
Bonnie L
BL
D015107:4-Butyrolactone / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000378:metabolism; D018407:Bacterial Physiological Phenomena; D001426:Bacterial Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D018441:Biofilms / Q000254:growth & development; D006152:Cyclic GMP / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000378:metabolism; D029968:Escherichia coli Proteins; D015964:Gene Expression Regulation, Bacterial; D005798:Genes, Bacterial; D006714:Homoserine / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000378:metabolism; D007783:Lactones / Q000378:metabolism*; D008954:Models, Biological; D009842:Oligopeptides / Q000378:metabolism; D010727:Phosphoric Diester Hydrolases / Q000378:metabolism; D019761:Phosphorus-Oxygen Lyases / Q000378:metabolism; D011685:Purine Nucleotides / Q000378:metabolism; D015363:Quinolones / Q000378:metabolism; D015290:Second Messenger Systems; D015398:Signal Transduction; D014774:Virulence / Q000235:genetics
C407944:2-heptyl-3-hydroxy-4-quinolone; D001426:Bacterial Proteins; D029968:Escherichia coli Proteins; D007783:Lactones; C091088:N-octanoylhomoserine lactone; D009842:Oligopeptides; D011685:Purine Nucleotides; D015363:Quinolones; C088386:homoserine lactone; C062025:bis(3',5')-cyclic diguanylic acid; D006714:Homoserine; D010727:Phosphoric Diester Hydrolases; D019761:Phosphorus-Oxygen Lyases; C060720:diguanylate cyclase; D006152:Cyclic GMP; D015107:4-Butyrolactone