Quorum sensing modulates microbial efficiency by regulating bacterial investment in nutrient acquisition enzymes. (September 2019)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: McBride, Steven G.; Strickland, Michael S.
• Is Part Of: Soil biology and biochemistry. Volume 136(2019)
• Publication Date: 2019-09
• Subjects: Extracellular enzyme activity -- Quorum sensing and quorum quenching -- Bacterial signaling -- Evolutionary economics -- Mass-specific respiration; EEA Extracellular enzyme activity -- AHL Acyl-homoserine lactone; Soil biochemistry -- Periodicals; Soil biology -- Periodicals; Sols -- Biochimie -- Périodiques; Sols -- Biologie -- Périodiques; Sols -- Microbiologie -- Périodiques; Bodembiologie; Biochemie; 631.46
• DOI: 10.1016/j.soilbio.2019.06.010
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0038-0717

Abstract

Abstract: Quorum sensing and quenching are components of chemical signaling that microorganisms use for gene regulation. These components regulate extracellular enzyme production and may subsequently mediate microbial efficiency. We performed a 30-day field-based common garden experiment to determine the effect of quorum sensing and quorum quenching on respiration, enzyme activity, and microbial efficiency. For nutrient acquisition enzymes (e.g. n-acetylglucosaminidase), we found that quorum sensing treatments had 1.4–2.2-fold greater activity than quorum quenching treatments. Furthermore, mass-specific respiration for quorum sensing treatments were ∼1.2-fold higher than quorum quenching treatments, indicating lower efficiency. This study highlights soil microbial quorum sensing as a mechanism that influences both enzyme production and mass-specific respiration, and as a potential regulator of enzyme evolutionary-economics. Highlights: Microbial extracellular enzyme activity follows evolutionary economic principles. Quorum sensing regulates the microbial enzyme economy by stimulating production. When quorum sensing is interrupted enzyme production is downregulated.