A new bacterial chemical signal: mapping the chemical space used for communication

Chembiochem. 2014 Mar 3;15(4):498-500. doi: 10.1002/cbic.201300758. Epub 2014 Jan 16.

Abstract

Sticking together: genetic information, bioassays and chemical characterisation have revealed that photopyrones produced by insect pathogenic Photorabdus bacteria are new bacterial signalling compounds. They induce cell clumping behaviour in the bacterium.

Keywords: LuxR; Photorhabdus; pheromones; photopyrones; quorum sensing; signal transduction.

MeSH terms

  • 4-Butyrolactone / analogs & derivatives
  • 4-Butyrolactone / biosynthesis
  • 4-Butyrolactone / chemistry
  • Bacteria / metabolism*
  • Bacterial Proteins / metabolism
  • Pheromones / biosynthesis
  • Pheromones / chemistry
  • Photorhabdus / metabolism
  • Quorum Sensing
  • Signal Transduction*
  • Transcription Factors / metabolism

Substances

  • Bacterial Proteins
  • LuxI protein, Bacteria
  • Pheromones
  • Transcription Factors
  • homoserine lactone
  • 4-Butyrolactone