Acylhomoserine lactones used in quorum sensing regulate their own synthesis by a(n)____________ system.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The term "autoinduction" refers to a feedback regulation mechanism used by bacteria to control the synthesis and release of acylhomoserine lactones. At low cell densities, the concentration of acylhomoserine lactones is low, so there is minimal activation of genes regulated by quorum sensing. As the cell density increases, the concentration of acylhomoserine lactones increases, leading to activation of quorum sensing genes. This, in turn, leads to a further increase in the production of acylhomoserine lactones, allowing the bacteria to coordinate their behavior. Thus, acylhomoserine lactones regulate their own synthesis through a mechanism known as autoinduction.

Acylhomoserine Lactones Used in Quorum Sensing Regulate Their Own Synthesis