Quorum sensing is a regulatory system used by bacteria for controlling gene expression in response to increasing cell density. Controlling bacterial infections by quenching their quorum sensing systems is a promising field of study. The expression of specific target genes, such as transcriptional regulators belonging to the LuxIR family of proteins, is coordinated by the synthesis of diffusible acylhomoserine lactone (AHL) molecules. N-3-oxo-tetradecanoyl-L-homoserine lactone (3-oxo-C14-HSL) is a small diffusible signaling molecule involved in quorum sensing, thereby controlling gene expression and affecting cellular metabolism in bacteria.[1] [2] [3] It appears later than shorter acyl chain AHLs in developing biofilms [4] and, like other long chain 3-oxo-AHLs, stimulates the production of putisolvin, [5] which in turn, inhibits biofilm formation.
Reference:
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[2]. Lithgow, J.K., Wilkinson, A., Hardman, A., et al. The regulatory locus cinRI in Rhizobium leguminosarum controls a network of quorum-sensing loci. Molecular Microbiology 37(1), 81-97 (2000).
[3]. McClean, K.H., Winson, M.K., Fish, L., et al. Quorum-sensing and Chromobacterium violaceum: Exploitation of violacein production and inhibition for the detection of N-acylhomoserine lactones. Microbiology 143, 3703-3711 (1997).
[4]. Gomi, K., Kikuchi, T., Tokue, Y., et al. Mouse and human cell activation by N-dodecanoyl-DL-homoserine lactone, a Chromobacterium violaceum autoinducer. Infection and Immunity 74(12), 7029-7031 (2006).
[5]. Dubern, J.F., Lugtenberg, B.J.J., and Bloemberg, G.V. The ppuI-rsaL-ppuR quorum-sensing system regulates biofilm formation of Pseudomonas putida PCL1445 by controlling biosynthesis of the Cyclic Lipopeptides Putisolvins I and II. Journal of Bacteriology 188(8), 2898-2906 (2006).