A quorum-sensing gene system requires the accumulation of a secreted small molecule called a/an __________.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

A quorum-sensing gene system requires the accumulation of a secreted small molecule called an autoinducer, which is produced by bacterial cells and serves as a signal to regulate gene expression. The accumulation of autoinducer enables bacteria to detect and respond to changes in population density, allowing them to coordinate their behavior and carry out collective actions, such as forming biofilms or producing virulence factors in a pathogenic setting. The other choices listed (activator, repressor, inducer, and corepressor) are all related to gene regulation, but they do not specifically refer to the molecule required for a quorum-sensing system.

A Quorum-Sensing Gene System Requires the Accumulation of a Secreted