Bacterial Quorum Sensing Signals Self-Assemble in Aqueous Media to Form Micelles and Vesicles: An Integrated Experimental and Molecular Dynamics Study.

ABSTRACT: Many species of common bacteria communicate and coordinate group behaviors, including toxin production and surface fouling, through a process known as quorum sensing (QS). In Gram-negative bacteria, QS is regulated by N-acyl-l-homoserine lactones (AHLs) that possess a polar homoserine lactone headgroup and a nonpolar aliphatic tail. Past studies demonstrate that AHLs can aggregate in water or adsorb at interfaces, suggesting that molecular self-assembly could play a role in processes that govern bacterial communication. We used a combination of biophysical characterization and atomistic molecular dynamics (MD) simulations to characterize the self-assembly behaviors of 12 structurally related AHLs. We used static light scattering and measurements of surface tension to characterize th

SUBMITTER: Gahan CG 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7331775 | biostudies-literature | 2020 May

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature