Schaefer, A. et al., 2017. Quorum Sensing: Methods and Protocols

“Hot Stuff”: the many uses of a radiolabel assay in detecting acyl-homoserine lactone quorum sensing signals. 

Amy Schaefer, Caroline S. Harwood and E. Peter Greenberg
13 November 2017, In “Quorum Sensing:   Methods and Protocols, Methods in Molecular Biology. vol. 1673: 35-47; doi: 10.1007/978-1-4939-7309-5_3

Abstract

Many Proteobacteria synthesize acyl-homoserine lactone (AHL) molecules for use as signals in cell density-dependent gene regulation known as quorum sensing (QS) and response. AHL detection protocols are essential to QS researchers and several techniques are available, including a 14C-AHL radiolabel assay. This assay is based on the uptake of radiolabeled methionine by living cells and conversion of the radiolabel into S-adenosylmethionine (SAM). The radiolabeled SAM is then incorporated into AHL signal by an AHL synthase enzyme. Here we describe a methodology to perform the AHL radiolabel assay, which is unbiased, relatively fast, and very sensitive compared to other AHL detection protocols.

Citation

Schaefer, AL, Harwood, CS, and Greenberg EP. in production/press “Hot Stuff”: the many uses of a radiolabel assay in detecting acyl-homoserine lactone quorum sensing signals. Livia Leoni and Giordano Rampioni (eds.), Quorum Sensing: Methods and Protocols, Methods in Molecular Biology, vo. 1673, DOI 10.1007/978-1-4939-7309-5_3