CONSTRUCTION AND ANALYSIS OF LUXCDABE-BASED PLASMID SENSORS FOR INVESTIGATING N-ACYL HOMOSERINE LACTONE-MEDIATED QUORUM SENSING

Plasmid reporter vectors have been constructed which respond to activa tion of LuxR and its homologues LasR and RhlR (VsmR) by N-acyl homoser ine lactones (AHLs). The expression of luxCDABE from transcriptional f usions to P-luxI P-lasI and P-rhlI respectively, occurs in the presenc e of activating AHLs. A profile of structure/activity relationships is seen where the natural ligand is most potent. The characterisation of individual LuxR homologue/AHL combinations allows a comprehensive eva luation of quorum sensing signals from a test organism. (C) 1998 Feder ation of European Microbiological Societies, Published by Elsevier Sci ence B.V. All rights reserved.