Journal of Bacteriology, September 2001, p. 5239-5247, Vol. 183, No. 18
0021-9193/01/$04.00+0 DOI: 10.1128/JB.183.18.5239-5247.2001
Copyright © 2001, American Society for Microbiology. All rights reserved.
Center for Agricultural Biotechnology, University of Maryland Biotechnology Institute,1 Department of Chemical Engineering2 and Department of Cell Biology and Molecular Genetics,4 University of Maryland, College Park, and U.S. Army Edgewood Research, Development, and Engineering Center, Aberdeen Proving Grounds, Aberdeen, Maryland3
Received 14 February 2001/Accepted 29 June 2001
Bacterial cell-to-cell communication facilitates coordinated
expression of specific genes in a growth rate-II and cell
density-dependent manner, a process known as quorum sensing. While the
discovery of a diffusible Escherichia coli signaling
pheromone, termed autoinducer 2 (AI-2), has been made along with
several quorum sensing genes, the overall number and coordination of
genes controlled by quorum sensing through the AI-2 signal has not been
studied systematically. We investigated global changes in mRNA
abundance elicited by the AI-2 signaling molecule through the use of a
luxS mutant that was unable to synthesize AI-2. Remarkably,
242 genes, comprising ca. 5.6% of the E. coli genome,
exhibited significant transcriptional changes (either induction or
repression) in response to a 300-fold AI-2 signaling differential, with
many of the identified genes displaying high induction levels (more
than fivefold). Significant induction of ygeV, a putative
54-dependent transcriptional activator, and
yhbH, a
54 modulating protein, suggests
54 may be involved in E. coli quorum sensing.
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