Lack of genomic evidence of AI-2 receptors suggests a non-quorum sensing role for luxS in most bacteria.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Great excitement accompanied discoveries over the last decade in several Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacteria of the LuxS protein, which catalyzes production of the AI-2 autoinducer molecule for a second quorum sensing system (QS-2). Since the luxS gene was found to be widespread among the most diverse bacterial taxa, it was hypothesized that AI-2 may constitute the basis of a universal microbial language, a kind of bacterial Esperanto. Many of the studies published in this field have drawn a direct correlation between the occurrence of the luxS gene in a given organism and the presence and functionality of a QS-2 therein. However, rarely hathe existence of potential AI-2 receptors been examined. This is important, since it is now well recognized that LuxS also holds

SUBMITTER: Rezzonico F 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC2561040 | biostudies-literature | 2008 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature