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LuxR‐type quorum‐sensing regulators that are detached from common scents
Author(s) -
Tsai ChingSung,
Winans Stephen C.
Publication year - 2010
Publication title -
molecular microbiology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.857
H-Index - 247
eISSN - 1365-2958
pISSN - 0950-382X
DOI - 10.1111/j.1365-2958.2010.07279.x
Subject(s) - biology , quorum sensing , autoinducer , gene , genetics , transcription (linguistics) , transcription factor , operon , microbiology and biotechnology , dna , virulence , escherichia coli , linguistics , philosophy
Summary The ability of LuxR‐type proteins to regulate transcription is controlled by bacterial pheromones, N‐acylhomoserine lactones (AHLs). Most LuxR‐family proteins require their cognate AHLs for activity, and at least some of them require AHLs for folding and protease resistance. However, a few members of this family are able to fold, dimerize, bind DNA, and regulate transcription in the absence of AHLs; moreover, these proteins are antagonized by their cognate AHLs. Complexes between some of these proteins and their DNA binding sites are disrupted by AHLs in vitro . All such proteins are fairly closely related within the larger LuxR family, indicating that they share a relatively recent common ancestor. The 3′ ends of the genes encoding these receptors invariably overlap with the 3′ ends of the cognate AHL synthase genes, suggesting additional antagonism at the level of mRNA synthesis, stability or translation.