- Quorum Sensing and Quorum-Quenching Enzymes
- Quorum Sensing and Quorum-Quenching Enzymes
- ㆍ 저자명
- Dong. Yi-Hu,Zhang. Lian-Hui
- ㆍ 간행물명
- The journal of microbiology
- ㆍ 권/호정보
- 2005년|43권 |pp.101-109 (9 pages)
- ㆍ 발행정보
- 한국미생물학회
- ㆍ 파일정보
- 정기간행물|ENG| PDF텍스트
- ㆍ 주제분야
- 기타
To gain maximal benefit in a competitive environment, single-celled bacteria have adopted a community genetic regulatory mechanism, known as quorum sensing (QS). Many bacteria use QS signaling systems to synchronize target gene expression and coordinate biological activities among a local population. N-acylhomoserine lactones (AHLs) are one family of the well-characterized QS signals in Gram-negative bacteria, which regulate a range of important biological functions, including virulence and biofilm formation. Several groups of AHL-degradation enzymes have recently been identified in a range of living organisms, including bacteria and eukaryotes. Expression of these enzymes in AHL-dependent pathogens and transgenic plants efficiently quenches the microbial QS signaling and blocks pathogenic infections. Discovery of these novel quorum quenching enzymes has not only provided a promising means to control bacterial infections, but also presents new challenges to investigate their roles in host organisms and their potential impacts on ecosystems.