title: Development and comparison of whole-cell assay systems for quorum-sensing inhibitors based on TraR, LasR, and QscR.
abstract: Quorum sensing (QS) is a cell density-dependent signaling system that is used by bacteria to coordinate gene expression within their population. In this study, the authors describe the development and characterization of various cell-based bioassay systems for detecting QS inhibitors based on three LuxR family proteins, TraR, LasR, and the recently identified QscR. Three different gram-negative bacteria, Escherichia coli, Agrobacterium tumefaciens, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa, were employed as reporter strains to overproduce one of the aforementioned QS activator proteins and respond to inhibitors. The nine different whole-cell assay systems (three reporter strains × three QS proteins) were evaluated for their applicability and reliability by studying quantitative responses to various furanones, which are potent inhibitors of the LuxR family proteins. These results demonstrate that the cell-based bioassay systems are sensitive and reliable tools for screening of QS activators and inhibitors. This study also suggests that furanones are potentially important QS inhibitors for many LuxR-type activator proteins.
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering and Institute for Environmental Technology and Industry, Pusan National University, Busan, Korea.
authors.forename: Hai-Bo
authors.initials: HB
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Jung Sun
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Sunghoon
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Park
mesh_terms: D054742:Acyl-Butyrolactones / Q000494:pharmacology; D001426:Bacterial Proteins / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors* / Q000235:genetics; D001681:Biological Assay; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004789:Enzyme Activation / Q000187:drug effects; D020128:Inhibitory Concentration 50; D053038:Quorum Sensing / Q000187:drug effects*; D012097:Repressor Proteins / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors* / Q000235:genetics; D015534:Trans-Activators / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors* / Q000235:genetics; D001616:beta-Galactosidase / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D054742:Acyl-Butyrolactones; D001426:Bacterial Proteins; D012097:Repressor Proteins; D015534:Trans-Activators; C064778:LuxR autoinducer binding proteins; D001616:beta-Galactosidase