Autoinduction of light emission in different species of bioluminescent bacteria

The production of light in most luminescent bacteria lags behind cellular g rowth with induction of luminescence only occurring at high cell density. T he maximum intensity and the cell density reached before induction of lumin escence is highly dependent on the bacterial species and the growth conditi ons including temperature, salt and nutrient composition as well as other e xperimental conditions. Although common N-acylhomoserine lactone autoinduce rs have been identified in Vibrio (Photobacterium) fischeri and Vibrio harv eyi, most regulatory components are quite different. Recognition of the com mon as well as the different elements controlling luminescence in the diver se bacterial species is essential to understand the basis for high levels o f Light emission at the later stages of cellular growth. Copyright (C) 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.