title: Cloning and Characterization of the Autoinducer Synthase Gene from Lipid-Degrading BacteriumCedecea neteri.
abstract: The process of intercellular communication among bacteria, termed quorum sensing (QS), is mediated by small diffusible molecules known as the autoinducers. QS allows the population to react to the change of cell density in unison, in processes such as biofilm formation, plasmid conjugation, virulence, motility and root nodulation. In Gram-negative proteobacteria,N-acyl homoserine lactone (AHL) is the common "language" to coordinate gene expression. This signaling molecule is usually synthesized by LuxI-type proteins. We have previously discovered that a rare bacterium,Cedecea neteri, exhibits AHL-type QS activity. With information generated from genome sequencing, we have identified theluxIRgene pair responsible for AHL-type QS and named itcneIR. In this study, we have cloned and expressed the 636 bpluxIhomolog in anEscherichia colihost for further characterization. Our findings show thatE. coliharboringcneIproduced the same AHL profile as the wild typeC. neteri, with the synthesis of AHL known asN-butyryl-homoserine lactone. This 25 kDa LuxI homolog shares high similarity with other AHL synthases from closely related species. This work is the first documentation of molecular cloning and characterization ofluxIhomolog fromC. neteri.
authors.affiliation: Division of Genetic and Molecular Biology, Institute of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Science, University of Malaya Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
authors.forename: Kian-Hin
authors.initials: KH
authors.lastname: Tan
authors.affiliation: Division of Genetic and Molecular Biology, Institute of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Science, University of Malaya Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
authors.forename: Kah-Yan
authors.initials: KY
authors.lastname: How
authors.affiliation: Division of Genetic and Molecular Biology, Institute of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Science, University of Malaya Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
authors.forename: Jia-Yi
authors.initials: JY
authors.lastname: Tan
authors.affiliation: Division of Genetic and Molecular Biology, Institute of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Science, University of Malaya Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
authors.forename: Wai-Fong
authors.initials: WF
authors.lastname: Yin
authors.affiliation: Division of Genetic and Molecular Biology, Institute of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Science, University of Malaya Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
authors.forename: Kok-Gan
authors.initials: KG
authors.lastname: Chan
keywords: AHL synthase; Cedecea neteri; LuxI homolog; N-acyl homoserine lactone; cloning; quorum sensing