N-Acylhomoserine lactone-mediated quorum sensing regulates biofilm structure in Methylobacterium populi P-1M, an isolate from a pink-pigmented household biofilm

Biosci Biotechnol Biochem. 2019 Jan;83(1):174-180. doi: 10.1080/09168451.2018.1518701. Epub 2018 Sep 10.

Abstract

Numerous gram-negative bacteria have quorum-sensing systems and produce AHL as a quorum-sensing signal molecule. In this study, we demonstrated that Methylobacterium populi P-1M, an isolate from a pink-pigmented household biofilm, produced two AHLs, C14:1-HSL as a predominant product and 3OHC14-HSL as a minor product. The complete genome sequence of M. populi P-1M revealed the presence of genes that are predicted to encode an AHL synthase (mpoI) and AHL receptor (mpoR). M. populi P-1M formed a pellicle-like biofilm, which had a flat surface and was easily removable. In contrast, biofilms formed by mpoI and/or mpoR deletion mutants had a wavy surface structure and strongly adhered to the glass tube. When C14:1-HSL was added to the mpoI mutant culture, the biofilm structure resembled that of the wild-type strain. These results demonstrated that the structure and adhesion strength of M. populi P-1M biofilms are determined in part by AHL-mediated quorum sensing.Abbreviations: AHL: N-acyl-l-homoserine lactone; C14:1-HSL: N-tetradecenoyl-l-homoserine lactone; 3OHC14-HSL: N-(3-hydroxytetradecanoyl)-l-homoserine lactone; SAM: S-adenosyl-l-methionine; ACP: acyl-acyl carrier protein; EPS: extracellular polysaccharide; DMSO: dimethyl sulfoxide.

Keywords: Methylobacterium; Quorum sensing; acylhomoserine lactone; biofilm.

MeSH terms

  • 4-Butyrolactone / analogs & derivatives*
  • 4-Butyrolactone / metabolism
  • Biofilms / growth & development*
  • Housing*
  • Methylobacterium / cytology*
  • Methylobacterium / genetics
  • Methylobacterium / metabolism
  • Methylobacterium / physiology*
  • Mutation
  • Pigmentation*
  • Quorum Sensing*

Substances

  • homoserine lactone
  • 4-Butyrolactone