Quorum Sensing in Bacteria

Ratnadeep Halder
Semester-I, Department of
Biotechnology
Visva-Bharati, Santiniketan
 Introduction
 Communication between bacteria, belonging to the
same species or different species is mediated through
different chemical signals.

 These signals can either related to cell-density or simply

signals produced by bacteria at different stages of
growth.

 In ‘Quorum sensing’ signals produced by bacteria is

dependent on cell density.

 Signals produced by bacteria is a part of their normal

metabolism.
 Definition
• Quorum = A particularly chosen group.

•A mechanism by which bacteria regulate their gene

expression in accordance with population density through
the use of signal molecules.
Regulate expression of genes for

Horizontal
Biofilm
Virulence Competence gene
formation
transfer
 History
• First observed in the mid-1960 by Alexander Tomasz.

• The first such system was discovered in Vibrio fischeri.

Fig: Vibrio fischeri

 Signalling Molecule
Mediated through Auto-inducer – a signalling molecule .

Binding to the receptor, it activates the transcription of a set of genes.

The concentration of the auto-inducer increase gradually as the

bacterial population grows.

In Gram negative bacteria AHLs act as inducer .

 Gram positive bacteria use processed oligo-peptides to communicate.

AHL (Acyl-homoserine lactone)

Structure of AHL Hydrolysis of AHL

 Different pathways

Quorum
Sensing

Gram positive bacteria Gram negative bacteria

 Overview of Quorum sensing in Gram
negative bacteria
• Autoinducer is produced by AHL synthetase.

• In Gram-negative bacteria, inducers diffuse freely

across the cell envelope in either direction.

• Inside the cells, the auto-inducer binds to a specific

transcription activator proteins.

• Triggers transcription of specific genes.

 Fig: Quorum sensing in Gram negative Bacteria
BROCK BIOLOGY OF MICROORGANISMS 14th edition
 Molecular Basis
• Two proteins involved in this mechanism- LuxI and
LuxR.

• LuxI is an enzyme that synthesize HSLs molecules.

• LuxR and HSLs molecules bind with each others.

• Now this complex promotes transcription of genes.

 AHL mode of action

Arul Jayaraman and Thomas K. Wood; bacterial QS system: signal circuit and implications for
biofilm
 Quorum sensing in Gram positive
Bacteria
• Here auto-inducers are processed peptides.
• Unlike Gram positive bacteria, auto-inducers are
secreted through an transporter.
• Secreted peptides are detected by sensor
kinases.
• This compounds phosphorylate specific
regulatory proteins.
• These proteins alter the transcription of specific
genes.
 Quorum sensing in Gram positive
bacteria

Arul Jayaraman and Thomas K. Wood; bacterial QS system: signal circuit and
implications for biofilm
 Bioluminescence in Vibrio fischeri
V. fischeri is a marine bacterium.

It produces light due to luciferase gene.

Two regulatory proteins involved in this

mechanisms are LuxI and LuxR.

Here auto inducer is N-(3-oxohexanoyl)-

homoserine lactone.

Symbiotic association of Vibrio fischeri

with squid.
 Low cell density

Quorum sensing in Vibrio fischeri at low and high cell density and high cell density

Charu Gera and S. Srivastava, QS sensing

 Quorum sensing in Pseudomonas
aeruginosa
• P. aeruginosa is a Gram positive bacteria.

• It uses Q.S system for causing disease.

1. Las system.
• Two pairs of gene systems
2. Rhl system.
The function of the genes in Pseudomonas aeruginosa QS system and the
pathogenic genes under their control

Charu Gera and S. Srivastava, QS sensing

Charu Gera and S. Srivastava, QS sensing
 Virulence factor of E.coli include
Quorum sensing
• E.coli is a Gram negative bacteria which produces
Shiga toxin in host body.

• It produces AHL called AI-3 that induces virulence

genes transcription.

• Host cell’s hormone epinephrine and non

epinephrine also involve in this sensing.
 Shiga toxin production

BROCK BIOLOGY OF MICROORGANISMS 14th edition

 The pathogenesis of
Staphylococcus aureus
• Uses a small peptide called the autoinducing peptide (AIP),
encoded by the argD gene, as the autoinducer.

• It is first synthesized as pre-from.

• the membrane-bound ARGB protein trims the peptide into

its active AIP form.
BROCK BIOLOGY OF MICROORGANISMS 14th edition
 Competency through QS system
• This incident is occurred in Bacillus subtilis.

• ComX, ComQ , ComP and ComA is involved in this

process.

• CSF, a second oligo-peptide, acts as a signaling

molecule.
Bacillus subtilis’s competence and sporulation

Christopher M. Waters, QS signalling in bacteria

 Biofilm formation
• Pseudomonas aeruginosa show biofilm formation.
• Las and Rhl system involve.

• Cyclic di-guanosine monophosphate acts as a second

messenger.
• An exo-polysaccharide gel, pel, is produced.
BROCK BIOLOGY OF MICROORGANISMS 14th edition
 Inhibition
• The acyl-homoserine lactonase acts as a inhibitor.

• Enzyme from Bacillus sp. encoded by Aii gene

Capable of degrading AHLs.
 APPLICATION
• Protein synthesis in multiple layer.

• Antibiotic production.
 References
• Arul Jayaraman and Thomas K. Wood; bacterial QS
system: signal circuit and implications for biofilm 2008.
• Christopher M. Waters, QS cell to cell communications
signalling in bacteria 2009.
• Mehrdad Moosazadeh Moghaddam, Samaneh Khodi and
Ali Mirhossein Quoram sensing in bacteria and a Glance
on Pseudomonas aeruginosa 2012.
• Brock biology of microorganisms 14th edition.
• Prescott microbiology 7th edition.