Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 4, 2026
11:16
A Hydroponic Co-cultivation System for Simultaneous and Systematic Analysis of Plant/Microbe Molecular Interactions and Signaling
Published on: July 22, 2017
13.6K
Karrikins from plant smoke modulate bacterial quorum sensing
Aviad Mandabi1, Hadas Ganin, Pnina Krief
1Department of Chemistry and The National Institute for Biotechnology in the Negev, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer-Sheva, Israel. meijler@bgu.ac.il.
Chemical Communications (Cambridge, England)
|December 12, 2013
Summary
Plant smoke compounds called karrikins, previously known as germination stimulants, also impact bacterial communication. These karrikins modulate bacterial quorum-sensing (QS) in diverse species, yielding varied results.
Area of Science:
- Plant biology
- Microbiology
- Chemical signaling
Background:
- Karrikins are signaling molecules identified from plant smoke, known to stimulate seed germination.
- Bacterial quorum-sensing (QS) is a cell-to-cell communication system regulating collective behaviors.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate a potential second role for karrikins beyond plant germination.
- To determine if karrikins influence bacterial quorum-sensing (QS) systems.
Main Methods:
- Experiments were conducted on bacterial species including *Agrobacterium tumefaciens*, *Pseudomonas aeruginosa*, and *Vibrio harveyi*.
- The impact of karrikins on QS pathways in these bacteria was analyzed.
Main Results:
- Karrikins were found to modulate bacterial QS in the tested species.
- The outcomes of karrikin modulation on QS varied significantly across different bacterial species.
Conclusions:
- Karrikins possess a previously unrecognized function in regulating bacterial communication.
- The diverse effects of karrikins on QS highlight complex inter-kingdom signaling interactions.
Related Concept Videos
01:28Gene Regulation in Microbial Communities: Quorum Sensing
954
Quorum sensing is a mechanism of bacterial communication that enables coordinated gene expression in response to changes in population density. This facilitates collective behaviors that enhance survival, resource acquisition, and ecological adaptation. This process relies on small signaling molecules called autoinducers that accumulate as bacterial populations grow. When a critical threshold concentration of autoinducers is reached, bacterial cells collectively modify gene expression,...
954
01:30Bacterial Signaling
29.8K
Bacterial signaling can occur within bacteria (intracellular) or between bacteria (intercellular). At times, a group of bacteria behaves like a community. To achieve this, they engage in quorum sensing, the perception of higher cell density that causes changes in gene expression. Quorum sensing involves both extracellular and intracellular signaling. The signaling cascade starts with a molecule called an autoinducer (AI). Individual bacteria produce AIs that move out of the bacterial cell...
29.8K
01:28Global Regulatory Systems
959
Global regulatory systems in bacteria enable rapid and coordinated responses to environmental changes by integrating sensory inputs with gene expression, ensuring efficient adaptation to fluctuating conditions. Key global regulatory mechanisms include regulons, two-component systems, sigma factors, and secondary messengers.Regulons and Global RegulatorsA regulon is a collection of genes and operons controlled by a common global regulator. These regulators enable bacteria to prioritize resource...
959
01:25Cell Signaling in Plants
4.5K
Plant cells communicate to coordinate their cycle of growth, flowering and fruiting, and activities in roots, shoots, and leaves in response to the changing environmental conditions. Plant signaling is distinct from animal signaling. Plants primarily utilize enzyme-linked receptors, whereas the largest class of cell-surface receptors in animals are G-protein coupled receptors (GPCRs). Unlike animals, receptor tyrosine kinases are rare in plants. Instead, plants have a diverse class of...
4.5K
01:30Other Stress Responses in Bacteria
587
Bacteria have global regulatory systems that control several types of stress mechanisms. These include Pho regulon and the heat shock response, which are essential systems for environmental adaptation, such as nutrient limitation and proteotoxic stress. The Pho regulon and the heat shock response exemplify bacterial resilience, enabling rapid adaptation to fluctuating environmental conditions.Pho RegulonBacteria require phosphorus for essential cellular processes, including nucleic acid...
587
01:28Regulation of Bacterial Virulence
76
Pathogenic bacteria employ a range of regulatory mechanisms to modulate the expression of virulence genes in response to environmental and host-derived signals. These mechanisms ensure that virulence factors are expressed only under favorable conditions, thereby optimizing infection and survival strategies.Mechanisms of Virulence RegulationKey regulatory strategies include:Two-Component Systems: These consist of a membrane-bound sensor kinase and a cytoplasmic response regulator. Environmental...
76