Small RNA control of cell-to-cell communication in Vibrio harveyi and Vibrio cholerae small RNA control of quorum sensing

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Quorum sensing is a process of cell-to-cell communication, by which bacteria coordinate gene expression and behavior on a population-wide scale. Quorum sensing is accomplished through production, secretion, and subsequent detection of chemical signaling molecules termed autoinducers. The human pathogen Vibrio cholerae and the marine bioluminescent bacterium Vibrio harveyi incorporate information from multiple autoinducers, and also environmental signals and metabolic cues into their quorum-sensing pathways. At the core of these pathways lie several homologous small regulatory RNA molecules, the Quorum Regulatory RNAs. Small noncoding RNAs have emerged throughout the bacterial and eukaryotic kingdoms as key regulators of behavioral and developmental processes. Here, I review our present understanding of the role of the Qrr small RNAs in integrating quorum-sensing signals and in regulating the individual cells response to this information.

Original languageEnglish
Title of host publicationEvolution from Cellular to Social Scales
Number of pages15
Publication date1 Dec 2008
Pages45-59
ISBN (Print)9781402087608
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 1 Dec 2008
SeriesNATO Science for Peace and Security Series B: Physics and Biophysics
ISSN1874-6500

    Research areas

  • Autoinducer, Quorum sensing, Small RNAs, Vibrio cholerae, Vibrio harveyi

ID: 204090899