Open AccessIdentification of Acyl-Homoserine Lactone Signal Molecules Produced by Nitrosomonas europaea Strain Schmidt
Author(s) -
Emily O. Burton,
Harry W. Read,
Molly C. Pellitteri,
William J. Hickey
Publication year - 2005
Publication title -
applied and environmental microbiology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.552
H-Index - 324
eISSN - 1070-6291
pISSN - 0099-2240
DOI - 10.1128/aem.71.8.4906-4909.2005
Subject(s) - nitrosomonas europaea , homoserine , strain (injury) , chemostat , lactone , biology , chemistry , quorum sensing , biochemistry , stereochemistry , genetics , nitrification , bacteria , gene , organic chemistry , virulence , anatomy , nitrogen
Nitrosomonas europaea strain Schmidt produces at least three acyl homoserine lactone (AHL) signal molecules: C(6)-homoserine lactone (HSL), C(8)-HSL, and C(10)-HSL. These compounds were identified in extracts of chemostat culture effluent by three independent methods. The concentrations of AHL in effluent were low (0.4 to 2.2 nM) but within the range known to induce AHL-responsive systems. The absence of LuxI and LuxM homologs from the genome of N. europaea strain Schmidt suggested that AHL synthesis occurs by an alternate pathway, possibly mediated by an HdtS homolog. To the best of our knowledge, the present report is the first to document the types and levels of AHLs produced by N. europaea.