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Quorum sensing triggers the stochastic escape of individual cells from Pseudomonas putida biofilms

Author

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  • Gerardo Cárcamo-Oyarce

    (Institute of Plant Biology, University of Zürich)

  • Putthapoom Lumjiaktase

    (Institute of Plant Biology, University of Zürich
    Present Address: Faculty of Medicine, Department of Pathology, Ramathibodi Hospital, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand)

  • Rolf Kümmerli

    (Institute of Plant Biology, University of Zürich
    Present Address: Faculty of Medicine, Department of Pathology, Ramathibodi Hospital, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand)

  • Leo Eberl

    (Institute of Plant Biology, University of Zürich)

Abstract

The term ‘quorum sensing’ (QS) is generally used to describe the phenomenon that bacteria release and perceive signal molecules to coordinate cooperative behaviour in response to their population size. QS-based communication has therefore been considered a social trait. Here we show that QS signals (N-acyl-homoserine lactones, AHLs) are stochastically produced in young biofilms of Pseudomonas putida and act mainly as self-regulatory signals rather than inducing neighbouring cells. We demonstrate that QS induces the expression of putisolvin biosurfactants that are not public goods, thereby triggering asocial motility of induced cells out of microcolonies. Phenotypic heterogeneity is most prominent in the early stages of biofilm development, whereas at later stages behaviour patterns across cells become more synchronized. Our findings broaden our perspective on QS by showing that AHLs can control the expression of asocial (self-directed) traits, and that heterogeneity in QS can serve as a mechanism to drive phenotypic heterogeneity in self-directed behaviour.

Suggested Citation

  • Gerardo Cárcamo-Oyarce & Putthapoom Lumjiaktase & Rolf Kümmerli & Leo Eberl, 2015. "Quorum sensing triggers the stochastic escape of individual cells from Pseudomonas putida biofilms," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 6(1), pages 1-9, May.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:6:y:2015:i:1:d:10.1038_ncomms6945
    DOI: 10.1038/ncomms6945
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    Cited by:

    1. Vera Bettenworth & Simon Vliet & Bartosz Turkowyd & Annika Bamberger & Heiko Wendt & Matthew McIntosh & Wieland Steinchen & Ulrike Endesfelder & Anke Becker, 2022. "Frequency modulation of a bacterial quorum sensing response," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 13(1), pages 1-12, December.
    2. David Scheidweiler & Ankur Deep Bordoloi & Wenqiao Jiao & Vladimir Sentchilo & Monica Bollani & Audam Chhun & Philipp Engel & Pietro de Anna, 2024. "Spatial structure, chemotaxis and quorum sensing shape bacterial biomass accumulation in complex porous media," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 15(1), pages 1-12, December.

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