摘要
群体感应系统(quorum sensing system,QS)是一种感应细胞密度,并相应地调控基因表达的自诱导系统.细菌利用群体感应系统实现细胞间通讯,响应邻近群落的种群密度和物种间与物种内组成的变化,调控菌体的生理特性,对细菌群体的稳定性具有重要作用.群体感应系统因其结构简单、机理清晰而广泛应用于合成生物学的研究.本综述概述了群体感应系统的工作原理,并基于不同自诱导因子对群体感应系统进行分类,分析了其多样性、串扰和正交性等特点,说明了群体感应系统调控蛋白与信号分子的结合机制,阐述了群体感应系统用于生物传感器,特别是肠道和皮肤菌群监测以及构建合成生物学群落等合成生物学中的应用,旨在加深对群体感应系统调控机制的理解,以期为更加全面且深入探究群体感应系统调控机制和扩大其在合成生物学中的应用范围提供帮助.
Abstract
Quorum sensing(QS)is a self-regulatory mechanism that allows bacteria to control gene expression based on their population density.This form of cell-cell communication enables bacteria to detect and respond to the concentration of signaling molecules called autoinducers(AIs).As the bacterial population grows,the concentration of AIs increases,triggering coordinated physiological responses.These responses can include behaviors such as biofilm formation,virulence factor production,and the synthesis of antimicrobial compounds,all of which are crucial for bacterial survival,adaptation,and population stability.Due to its simple structure and clear mechanism,quorum sensing systems are widely used in synthetic biology.Researchers typically classify quorum sensing systems based on the type of autoinducer involved.In general,Gram-negative bacteria use N-acyl homoserine lactones(AHLs)as their autoinducers,while Gram-positive bacteria rely on peptides.This classification highlights the diversity of quorum sensing systems across different bacterial species,each evolving unique signaling molecule.Moreover,crosstalk between different quorum sensing systems,particularly across species,can occur,adding complexity to regulation but also creating opportunities for engineering multi-species synthetic communities.One of the key advantages of quorum sensing systems is their orthogonality,meaning they can be engineered to function independently of one another.This property allows for the construction of complex,modular genetic circuits where the systems do not interfere with each other,enabling precise control over microbial behavior.Such features make quorum sensing systems highly suitable for applications in environmental monitoring,health diagnostics,and drug development.A prominent application of quorum sensing in synthetic biology is in the design of biosensors to monitor microbial communities,such as those in the human gut or on the skin.These biosensors can detect changes in microbial composition by responding to specific autoinducers,providing real-time feedback on microbial status.For example,bacteria engineered to respond to certain autoinducers can act as indicators of disease or microbial imbalances,offering the potential for early diagnosis and monitoring of health conditions.In conclusion,quorum sensing systems offer vast potential for advancing synthetic biology by enabling the precise regulation of microbial behaviors.Their applications in biosensors,environmental monitoring,and synthetic community construction open new possibilities for biotechnological innovations.Understanding the complex regulatory mechanisms of quorum sensing will be key to expanding its application scope and advancing synthetic biology.
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