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Quorum sensing: cell-to-cell communication in bacteria.
Christopher M Waters1, Bonnie L Bassler
1Department of Molecular Biology, Princeton University, Princeton, New Jersey 08544-1014, USA. cwaters@molbio.princeton.edu
Annual Review of Cell and Developmental Biology
|October 11, 2005
Summary
Bacteria use chemical signals for quorum sensing (QS) to coordinate group behaviors. This cell-cell communication allows bacteria to act as multicellular organisms, impacting gene expression and community dynamics.
Area of Science:
- Microbiology
- Molecular Biology
- Biochemistry
Background:
- Bacteria utilize chemical signal molecules for intercellular communication.
- This process, known as quorum sensing (QS), involves autoinducers to synchronize cellular activities.
- QS enables bacteria to sense population density and alter collective behavior.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review bacterial chemical communication networks.
- To explore signal integration, processing, and gene expression control in QS.
- To discuss intra- and interspecies communication and potential prokaryote-eukaryote cross-talk.
Main Methods:
- Literature review of quorum sensing mechanisms.
- Analysis of signal transduction pathways in bacterial communities.
- Examination of gene regulatory networks controlled by QS.
Main Results:
- QS architectures vary, enabling complex communication networks.
- Chemical information is integrated and transduced to regulate gene expression.
- Bacteria achieve intra- and interspecies communication via QS.
Conclusions:
- Quorum sensing allows bacteria to function as multicellular organisms.
- QS mechanisms are crucial for coordinating population-wide behaviors.
- Prokaryote-eukaryote cross-communication presents intriguing research avenues.