Bacterial small signaling molecules

• Authors: K. Pawlik , K. Kuczek
• Languages of publication: PL

Abstracts

EN

Many bacterial species use small chemical molecules as signaling factors. Signal molecules are released into the environment and once a threshold concentration level has been achieved, they trigger a response in the target cells. This system of cell-cell signaling, termed as ?quorum sensing?, plays an important role in the coordination of the growth and other processes in bacterial populations. Two types of signaling molecules have been identified: (1) short peptides, common to Gram-positive bacteria and (2) carboxy-acid derivatives commonly utilised by Gram-negative bacteria. Bacteria of the genus Streptomyces utilize butyrolactones as signaling molecules and thus form a distinct group among Gram-positives. This review focuses on two model regulatory systems based on carboxy-acid derivatives: the regulation of bioluminescence in Vibrio fisheri and the regulation of streptomycin biosynthesis in Streptomyces griseus.

Keywords

EN

SMALL SIGNALING MOLECULE

Discipline

• BIOTECHNOLOGY: BIOTECHNOLOGY

• Publisher: Committee of Biotechnology, Polish Academy of Sciences
• Journal: Biotechnologia
• Year: 2002
• Issue: 4
• Pages: 115-120

Contributors

author

K. Pawlik

author

K. Kuczek

• Document Type: REPORT
• Publication order reference: K. Pawlik, Zaklad Mikrobiologii, Instytut Immunologii i Terapii Doswiadczalnej im. L. Hirszfelda, Polska Akademia Nauk, ul. R. Weigla 12, 53-114 Wroclaw, Poland