TY - JOUR
T1 - Structural identification of a bacterial quorum-sensing signal containing boron
AU - Chen, Xin
AU - Schauder, Stephan
AU - Potier, Noelle
AU - Van Dorsselaer, Alain
AU - Pelczer, Istvan
AU - Bassler, Bonnie L.
AU - Hughson, Frederick M.
N1 - Funding Information:
We acknowledge S. Cooper for suggesting that AI-2 could be a cyclic borate diester. We thank R. Carroll, M. Case, S. Miller, K. Xavier and A. Saxena and the staff of the National Synchrotron Light Source beamline X12C for technical assistance, and J. Carey, C. Eckhert, D. Kahne, C. Lee, Y. Shi, K. Shokat, T. Silhavy, and members of the Hughson and Bassler laboratories for discussions. This research was supported by a Deutsche Academischer Austaschdienst (DAAD) fellowship (S.S.), NSF and the Office of Naval Research (ONR) (B.L.B.), and NIH (F.M.H.).
PY - 2002/1/31
Y1 - 2002/1/31
N2 - Cell-cell communication in bacteria is accomplished through the exchange of extracellular signalling molecules called autoinducers. This process, termed quorum sensing, allows bacterial populations to coordinate gene expression. Community cooperation probably enhances the effectiveness of processes such as bioluminescence, virulence factor expression, antibiotic production and biofilm development. Unlike other autoinducers, which are specific to a particular species of bacteria, a recently discovered autoinducer (AI-2) is produced by a large number of bacterial species. AI-2 has been proposed to serve as a 'universal' signal for inter-species communication. The chemical identity of AI-2 has, however, proved elusive. Here we present the crystal structure of an AI-2 sensor protein, LuxP, in a complex with autoinducer. The bound ligand is a furanosyl borate diester that bears no resemblance to previously characterized autoinducers. Our findings suggest that addition of naturally occurring borate to an AI-2 precursor generates active AI-2. Furthermore, they indicate a potential biological role for boron, an element required by a number of organisms but for unknown reasons.
AB - Cell-cell communication in bacteria is accomplished through the exchange of extracellular signalling molecules called autoinducers. This process, termed quorum sensing, allows bacterial populations to coordinate gene expression. Community cooperation probably enhances the effectiveness of processes such as bioluminescence, virulence factor expression, antibiotic production and biofilm development. Unlike other autoinducers, which are specific to a particular species of bacteria, a recently discovered autoinducer (AI-2) is produced by a large number of bacterial species. AI-2 has been proposed to serve as a 'universal' signal for inter-species communication. The chemical identity of AI-2 has, however, proved elusive. Here we present the crystal structure of an AI-2 sensor protein, LuxP, in a complex with autoinducer. The bound ligand is a furanosyl borate diester that bears no resemblance to previously characterized autoinducers. Our findings suggest that addition of naturally occurring borate to an AI-2 precursor generates active AI-2. Furthermore, they indicate a potential biological role for boron, an element required by a number of organisms but for unknown reasons.
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U2 - 10.1038/415545a
DO - 10.1038/415545a
M3 - Article
C2 - 11823863
AN - SCOPUS:0037203773
SN - 0028-0836
VL - 415
SP - 545
EP - 549
JO - Nature
JF - Nature
IS - 6871
ER -