Structural identification of a bacterial quorum-sensing signal containing boron
Structural identification of a bacterial quorum-sensing signal containing boron
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DOI：
10.1038/415545a
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发表时间：
2002-01-31
期刊：
影响因子：
64.8
通讯作者：
Hughson, FM
中科院分区：
文献类型：
--
作者：
Chen, X;Schauder, S;Hughson, FM
细菌中的细胞间通讯是通过细胞外信号分子（称为自诱导物）的交换来完成的。这个过程被称为群体感应，允许细菌群体协调基因表达。社区合作可能会提高生物发光，毒力因子表达，抗生素生产和生物膜发展等过程的有效性（1-4）。与其他对特定细菌物种具有特异性的自诱导物不同，最近发现的自诱导物（AI-2）（5）由大量细菌物种产生。AI-2已被提议作为物种间通信的“通用”信号（1，2，6，7）。然而，AI-2的化学特性被证明是难以捉摸的。在这里，我们提出了AI-2传感器蛋白，LuxP，在一个复杂的自诱导物的晶体结构。结合的配体是一个呋喃糖基硼酸二酯，承担没有相似之处，以前的特点autoinducers。我们的研究结果表明，将天然存在的硼酸盐添加到AI-2前体中会产生活性AI-2。此外，它们还表明硼具有潜在的生物学作用，硼是许多生物体所需的元素，但原因不明。
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(1-4). Unlike other autoinducers, which are specific to a particular species of bacteria, a recently discovered autoinducer (AI-2)(5) is produced by a large number of bacterial species. AI-2 has been proposed to serve as a 'universal' signal for inter-species communication(1,2,6,7). 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.