Quorum Sensing and Expression of Virulence in Pectobacteria 英文参考文献.docVIP

Sensors 2012, 12, 3327-3349; doi:10.3390/s120303327 OPEN ACCESS sensors ISSN 1424-8220 /journal/sensors Review Quorum Sensing and Expression of Virulence in Pectobacteria Lee P?llumaa, Tiina Alam?e and Andres M?e * Department of Genetics, Institute of Molecular and Cell Biology, University of Tartu, Riia 23, Tartu 51010, Estonia; E-Mails: lee.pollumaa@ut.ee (L.P.); talamae@ebc.ee (T.A.) * Author to whom correspondence should be addressed; E-Mail: amae@ebc.ee; Tel.: +372-5-295-378; Fax: +372-7-420-286. Received: 16 January 2012; in revised form: 21 February 2012 / Accepted: 2 March 2012 / Published: 8 March 2012 Abstract: Quorum sensing (QS) is a population density-dependent regulatory mechanism in which gene expression is coupled to the accumulation of a chemical signaling molecule. QS systems are widespread among the plant soft-rotting bacteria. In Pectobacterium carotovorum, at least two QS systems exist being specified by the nature of chemical signals involved. QS in Pectobacterium carotovorum uses N-acylhomoserine lactone (AHL) based, as well as autoinducer-2 (AI-2) dependent signaling systems. This review will address the importance of the QS in production of virulence factors and interaction of QS with other regulatory systems in Pectobacterium carotovorum. Keywords: quorum sensing; N-acylhomoserine lactone; autoinductor 2; virulence; Pectobacterium 1. Introduction Pectobacterium carotovorum subsp. carotovorum (Pcc) [ex Erwinia carotovora subsp. carotovora] and Pectobacterium atrosepticum (Pba) [ex Erwinia carotovora subsp. atroseptica] are plant pathogens which cause soft rot in a wide range of plant species, including many crops of economic importance such as vegetables, ornamentals and also the model plant Arabidopsis. Pectobacteria are often described as brute-force pathogens because their virulence strategy relies on plant cell-wall degrading enzymes (