Production of both l‐ and d‐ N‐acyl‐homoserine lactones by Burkholderia cepacia and Vibrio fischeri

Quorum sensing (QS) is a complex process in which molecules, such as l‐N‐acyl‐homoserine lactones (l‐AHLs), are produced as essential signaling molecules allowing bacteria to detect and respond to cell population density by gene regulation. Few studies have considered the natural production and role of the opposite enantiomers, d‐AHLs. In this work, production of d,l‐AHLs by Burkholderia cepacia and Vibrio fischeri was monitored over time, with significant amounts of d‐AHLs detected. Bioluminescence of V. fischeri was observed with maximum bioluminescence correlating with the maximum concentrations of both l‐ and d‐ octanoyl‐homoserine lactones (l‐ and d‐OHL). l‐Methionine, a precursor to l‐AHLs, was examined via supplementation studies conducted by growing three parallel cultures of B. cepacia in M9 minimal media with added l‐, d‐, or d,l‐methionine and observing their effect on the production of d,l‐AHL by B. cepacia. The results show that addition of any methionine (l‐, d‐, or d,l‐) does not affect the overall ratio of l‐ to d‐AHLs, that is d‐AHL production was not selectively enhanced by d‐methionine addition. However, the overall AHL (l‐ and d‐) concentration does increase with the addition of any methionine supplement. These findings indicate the possibility of a distinct biosynthetic pathway for d‐AHL production, possibly exposing a new dimension within bacterial communication.