N-acylhomoserine lactone-dependent cell-to-cell communication and social behavior in the genus Serratia.
Members of the genus Serratia are increasingly responsible for nosocomial infections, the treatment of which may be complicated by the appearance of multi-antibiotic-resistant strains. Some but not all Serratia strains and species produce N-acylhomoserine lactones (AHLs), and possess luxR and luxI homologous genes. Phylogenetic comparisons have provided evidence for the lateral transfer of these quorum-sensing systems, and in at least one strain of S. marcescens, transfer via a complex transposon has been experimentally demonstrated. AHL-dependent quorum sensing in Serratia controls population surface migration, biofilm development, the biosynthesis of a carbapenem antibiotic and production of the red pigment, prodigiosin. Serratia also possesses LuxS and produces autoinducer-2 (AI-2) which appears to function as a second quorum-sensing system controlling many of the same phenotypes as the LuxR/AHL systems.
Department of Clinical Laboratory Sciences and Medical Biotechnology, National Taiwan University College of Medicine, No.1. Chang-Der Street, Taipei 100, Taiwan, ROC.
Jun-Rong
JR
Wei
Hsin-Chih
HC
Lai
D015107:4-Butyrolactone / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000378:metabolism; D001426:Bacterial Proteins / Q000502:physiology; D013437:Carbon-Sulfur Lyases; D002450:Cell Communication; D022761:Gene Transfer, Horizontal; D006801:Humans; D008124:Locomotion / Q000502:physiology; D012705:Serratia / Q000235:genetics / Q000472:pathogenicity / Q000502:physiology*; D016868:Serratia Infections / Q000382:microbiology
D001426:Bacterial Proteins; C088386:homoserine lactone; D013437:Carbon-Sulfur Lyases; C117753:LuxS protein, Bacteria; D015107:4-Butyrolactone