SigMol: repertoire of quorum sensing signaling molecules in prokaryotes

Abstract

Quorum sensing is a widespread phenomenon in prokaryotes that helps them to communicate among themselves and with eukaryotes. It is driven through quorum sensing signaling molecules (QSSMs) in a density dependent manner that assists in numerous biological functions like biofilm formation, virulence factors secretion, swarming motility, bioluminescence, etc. Despite immense implications, dedicated resources of QSSMs are lacking. Therefore, we have developed SigMol (http://bioinfo.imtech.res.in/manojk/sigmol), a specialized repository of these molecules in prokaryotes. SigMol harbors information on QSSMs pertaining to different quorum sensing signaling systems namely acylated homoserine lactones (AHLs), diketopiperazines (DKPs), 4-hydroxy-2-alkylquinolines (HAQs), diffusible signal factors (DSFs), autoinducer-2 (AI-2) and others. Database contains 1382 entries of 182 unique signaling molecules from 215 organisms. It encompasses biological as well as chemical aspects of signaling molecules. Biological information includes genes, preliminary bioassays, identification assays and applications, while chemical detail comprises of IUPAC name, SMILES and structure. We have provided user-friendly browsing and searching facilities for easy data retrieval and comparison. We have gleaned information of diverse QSSMs reported in literature at a single platform ‘SigMol’. This comprehensive resource will assist the scientific community in understanding intraspecies, interspecies or interkingdom networking and further help to unfold different facets of quorum sensing and related therapeutics.

Diverse Profiles of AI-1 Type Quorum Sensing Molecules in Cultivable Bacteria from the Mangrove (Kandelia obovata) Rhizosphere Environment

“…In previous studies, researchers found that AHL profiles were not strictly conserved at the genus or species levels (Zimmer et al, 2014; Rajput et al, 2016). Hence, some phylogenetically distant species exhibited similar AHL profiles.…”

“…and Aeromonas sp.) that also have AHL-degrading genes or regulators using the SigMol tool (Rajput et al, 2016). The coupling of AHL synthesis and degradation in the same bacterium has previously been noted for Agrobacterium tumefaciens , which produces and degrades 3-oxo-C8-AHL via a lactonase encoded by AttM that is activated by starvation signals and stress alarmone (p)ppGpp (Zhang et al, 2004).…”

“…QS is the coordinated regulation of gene expression in individual bacterial cells mediated by the population density-dependent release of extracellular signals (autoinducers, AI) to affect many diverse behaviors in a wide range of bacterial species (Banerjee and Ray, 2016). Microbial communities use a variety of molecules, including N -acyl-homoserine lactones (AHLs, AI-1), furanosyl borate (AI-2), polypeptides, and diketopiperazines, as autoinducing signals (Boyen et al, 2009; Rajput et al, 2016). Among them, AHLs are arguably the most common and important signaling molecules and regulate various biological functions including biofilm formation, genetic competence, symbiosis, motility, and the production of virulence factors in bacteria (especially in Gram-negative group; Atkinson and Williams, 2009; Hense and Schuster, 2015).…”

Quorum Sensing and Quorum Quenching in the Mediterranean Seagrass Posidonia oceanica Microbiota

“…However, the BBCC2175 strain, also affiliated with Pseudophaeobacter, was readily identified as being able to produce C16-HSL and the only one to not produce C14:1-HSL. Previous studies revealed that the patterns of AHL production can differ between phylogenetically closely related strains (Zimmer et al, 2014;Rajput et al, 2016). Such patterns may result from the selective pressure that occurs when related organisms share the same ecological niche ).…”

Toward plasmonic monitoring of surface effects on bacterial quorum-sensing

“…It also enables the cell-cell communication between bacteria and other cells, with which mixed colonies can survive symbiotically or competitively (Figure 1a,c) [14]. [19]. In fungal species such as C. albicans, quorum sensing pathways are not as well understood as in prokaryotes, but the molecule farnesol has been found to be related to QS and has an inhibitory effect on bacteria such as P. aeruginosa [20].…”