A solo luxl-type gene directs acylhomoserine lactone synthesis and contributes to motility control in the marine sponge symbiont Ruegeria sp KLH11

作者：Zan Jindong; Choi Okhee; Meharena Hiruy; Uhlson Charis L; Churchill Mair E A; Hill Russell T; Fuqua Clay^*

来源：Microbiology-SGM, 2015, 161(1): 50-56.

DOI：10.1099/mic.0.083956-0

Marine sponges harbour abundant and diverse bacterial communities, providing an ideal environment for bacterial cell-density-dependent cell cell signalling, termed quorum sensing. The marine sponge symbiont Ruegeria sp. KLH11 produces mainly long chain acylhomoserine lactones (AHLs) and has been developed as a quorum sensing model for roseobacterial sponge symbionts. Two pairs of luxR/l homologues were identified by genetic screening and were designated ssaRl and ssbRl (sponge-associated symbiont locus A or B, luxR/luxl homologue). In this study, we identified a third luxl-type gene, named sscl. The sscl gene does not have a cognate luxR homologue present at an adjacent locus and thus sscl is an AHL synthase solo. The sscl gene is required for production of long-chain hydroxylated AHLs, contributes to AHL pools and modestly influences flagellar motility in KLH11. A triple mutant for all luxl-type genes cannot produce AHLs, but still synthesizes para-coumaroyl-homoserine lactone.

• 出版日期2015-1