title: Bacterial quorum sensing and cell surface electrokinetic properties.
abstract: The hypothesis tested in this paper is that quorum sensing influences the microbial surface electrokinetic properties. Escherichia coli MG1655 and MG1655 LuxS- mutant (lacking quorum-sensing gene for Autoinducer synthase AI-2) were used for this study. AI-2 production (or lack of) in both strains was analyzed using the Vibrio harveyi bioassay. The levels of extracellular AI-2 with and without glucose in the growth medium were consistent with previously published work. The surface electrokinetic properties were determined for each strain of E. coli MG1655 by measuring the electrophoretic mobility using a phase amplitude light-scattering (PALS) Zeta potential analyser. The findings show that the surface charge of the cells is dependent upon the stage in the growth phase as well as the ability to participate in quorum sensing. In addition, significant differences in the electrophoretic mobility were observed between both strains of E. coli. These findings suggest that quorum sensing plays a significant role in the surface chemistry of bacteria during their growth.
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemical and Process Engineering, The University of Sheffield, Mappin Street, Sheffield S1 3JD, UK.
authors.forename: K E
authors.initials: KE
authors.lastname: Eboigbodin
authors.forename: J R A
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Newton
authors.forename: A F
authors.initials: AF
authors.lastname: Routh
authors.forename: C A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Biggs
mesh_terms: D001426:Bacterial Proteins / Q000235:genetics; D002462:Cell Membrane / Q000502:physiology; D004586:Electrophoresis; D004926:Escherichia coli / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000235:genetics / Q000254:growth & development / Q000502:physiology*; D015964:Gene Expression Regulation, Bacterial; D053038:Quorum Sensing / Q000502:physiology*; D013045:Species Specificity; D013499:Surface Properties; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000235:genetics
chemical_list: D001426:Bacterial Proteins; C085427:LuxI protein, Bacteria; D014157:Transcription Factors