微生物的群体感应系统及其应用

Quorum-Sensing System in Microbes and Its Application

细菌根据特定信号分子的浓度可以感知环境中自身或其它细菌浓度变化,当信号分子达到一定浓度阈值时,能启动菌体中相关基因表达来适应环境的变化,这一调控系统称为细菌的群体感应系统.真菌中也存在类似于细菌信号分子的信息素,并且介导着真菌某些生理行为的调节,其调控系统也称为真菌的群体感应系统.对群体感应系统进行深入研究,一方面将有助于了解单细胞微生物的信息交流与行为特性的关系,建立起化学信号物质和生理行为之间的联系,另一方面则可通过人为地干扰或促进微生物的群体感应系统从而调控其某种功能,以达成其在实际意义上的应用.

Bacteria can sense the density change of their own population and other bacterial population around them according to the concentration of given signal molecules.Bacteria can adapt to the environment through opening interrelated genes expression when the signal molecules accumulate to the minimal threshold level.This regulation system is called quorum-sensing system in bacteria.Fungi also have signal molecules similar to bacteria to regulate some population level behaviors of fungi,and the system is also called quorum-sensing system in fungi.An in-depth study on quorum sensing system will help to understand the relations between the information exchange and the behavior characteristics among one-celled microbes,and establish the connection between chemical signals and physiological behavior.It also has the practical significance of controlling some functions through artificial interference with or activation of the microbial quorum sensing system.