Theoretically, using a mutant strain of V. harveyi which is only capable of producing AI-2, bioluminescence was induced upon addition of a compound. On the other hand, with wild-type V. harveyi, AI-2 synthase was downregulated. How was it possible?
Bioassay using Vibrio harveyi BB strain may be less reproducible depending on the sample and microbial state. Therefore, it is recommended to proceed simultaneously with bioassay and other analytic methods (e.g., LC-FID or LC-UV) to detect AI-2 or DPD.
Autoinducer-2 (AI-2) is a signal molecule produced by LuxS, an enzyme found in many bacterial species and thus proposed to enable interspecies communication. Two classes of AI-2 receptors and many layers and interactions involved in downstream signalling have been identified so far. Although AI-2 has been implicated in the regulation of numerous niche-specific behaviours across the bacterial kingdom, interpretation of these results is complicated by the dual role of LuxS in signalling and the activated methyl cycle, a crucial central metabolic pathway
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