Presence of acyl-homoserine lactone in subtidal biofilm and the implication in larval behavioral response in the polychaete Hydroides elegans

Yi Li Huang, Sergey Dobretsov, Jang Seu Ki, Lai Hung Yang, Pei Yuan Qian*

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

49 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Quorum sensing (QS) signals have been considered to play important roles in biofilm development and in the attractiveness of biofilms to higher organisms in marine ecosystem. In this study, bacterial QS signalsacylated homoserine lactone derivatives (AHLs) were detected in 2-, 4-, and 6-day-old subtidal biofilms by using AHLs reporter strains. N-dodecanoyl-homoserine lactone (C12-HSL) was identified in 6-day-old biofilm at a concentration of 9.04 μg cm-minus;2 (3.36 mmol l-minus;1). To investigate the possible role of AHLs in the consequent eventlarval settlement of the polychaete Hydroides elegans onto subtidal biofilmsseven biofilm-derived bacteria that effectively induced larval settlement of H. elegans, were screened for AHL production. One of them, the Vibrio sp. UST950701-007, produced N-hexanoyl-homoserine lactone (C6-HSL). Larval settlement bioassay showed that C6-HSL, C12-HSL, and 3-oxo-octanoyl-homoserine lactone (3-oxo-C8-HLS) at certain concentrations induced some initial larval settlement behaviors such as reducing swimming speed, crawling on the bottom. However, these AHLs did not effectively induce larval settlement in comparison to the effective settlement inducer 3-isobutyl-1-methylxanthine. The possible chemokinetic mechanism and indirect effects of AHLs on larval settlement are suggested.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)384-392
Number of pages9
JournalMicrobial Ecology
Volume54
Issue number2
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Aug 2007
Externally publishedYes

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Ecology, Evolution, Behavior and Systematics
  • Ecology
  • Soil Science

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