Abstract
Quorum sensing is a process of bacterial cell-to-cell communication involving the production and detection of extracellular signaling molecules called autoinducers. Quorum sensing allows populations of bacteria to collectively control gene expression, and thus synchronize group behavior. Processes controlled by quorum sensing are typically ones that are unproductive unless many bacteria act together. Most autoinducers enable intraspecies communication; however, a recently discovered autoinducer AI-2 has been proposed to serve as a 'universal signal' for interspecies communication. Studies suggest that AI-2 encodes information in addition to specifics about cell number.
Publication types
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Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
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Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.
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Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.
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Review
MeSH terms
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Bacteria / classification
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Bacteria / genetics
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Bacteria / metabolism
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Bacterial Physiological Phenomena*
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Bacterial Proteins / genetics
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Bacterial Proteins / physiology*
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Carbon-Sulfur Lyases
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Gene Expression Regulation, Bacterial
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Homoserine* / analogs & derivatives*
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Homoserine* / biosynthesis
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Homoserine* / chemistry
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Homoserine* / physiology
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Lactones* / chemistry
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Models, Biological
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Models, Molecular
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Signal Transduction
Substances
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Bacterial Proteins
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Lactones
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N-octanoylhomoserine lactone
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Homoserine
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Carbon-Sulfur Lyases
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LuxS protein, Bacteria