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细菌的群体感应系统(Quorum sensing,QS)参与许多生物学功能的调控,其中包括动植物病原细菌致病因子的生成以及人类某些病原细菌生物膜的形成。酰基高丝氨酸内酯(N-acylhomoserine lactone,AHL)是调控群体感应系统的关键信号分子。近年的研究表明,不同生物体包括细菌和真核生物中都存在类别不同的能够降解AHL的群体感应淬灭酶(Quorum-quenching enzyme)。在AHL依赖型致病菌和转基因植物中表达AHL降解酶能有效地抑制QS信号分子的积累,从而阻断了病原细菌的发病机制,提高了植物的抗病性。这些新颖的群体感应淬灭酶的发现,不仅为防治细菌侵染提供了可行的途径,也对研究它们在宿主中的功能和对生态系统的潜在影响提出挑战。
Quorum sensing (QS) of bacteria is involved in the regulation of many biological functions, including the production of virulence factors of pathogenic bacteria of animals and plants and the formation of certain pathogenic bacteria biofilms in humans. Acylhomoserine lactone (AHL) is the key signal molecule that regulates the population sensing system. Recent studies show that there are different types of quorum-quenching enzymes capable of degrading AHL in different organisms including bacteria and eukaryotes. Expression of AHL-degrading enzymes in AHL-dependent pathogenic bacteria and transgenic plants can effectively inhibit the accumulation of QS signaling molecules, thereby blocking the pathogenesis of pathogenic bacteria and increasing plant disease resistance. The discovery of these novel population induction quenchers not only provides a viable approach to control bacterial infection, but also challenges their function in host and potential impact on ecosystem.