Quorum sensing is a mechanism of genetic control allowing single cell organisms to coordinate phenotypic response(s) across a local population and is often critical for ecosystem function. Although quorum sensing has been extensively studied in bacteria comparatively less is known about this mechanism in Archaea. Given the growing significance of Archaea in both natural and anthropogenic settings, it is important to delineate how widespread this phenomenon of signaling is in this domain. Employing a plasmid-based AHL biosensor in conjunction with thin layer chromatography (TLC), the present study screened a broad range of euryarchaeota isolates for potential signaling activity. Data indicated the presence of 11 new Archaeal isolates with AHL-like activity against the LuxR-based AHL biosensor, including for the first time putative AHL activity in a thermophile. The presence of multiple signals and distinct changes between growth phases were also shown via TLC. Multiple signal molecules were detected using TLC in Haloferax mucosum, Halorubrum kocurii, Natronococcus occultus and Halobacterium salinarium. The finding of multiple novel signal producers suggests the potential for quorum sensing to play an important role not only in the regulation of complex phenotypes within Archaea but the potential for cross-talk with bacterial systems.

中文翻译：

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古细菌参加对话：在一系列古细菌分离物中检测类AHL活性。

群体感应是一种遗传控制机制，允许单细胞生物协调本地人群的表型反应，这通常对生态系统功能至关重要。尽管在细菌中已经广泛地研究了群体感应，但在古细菌中对该机制的了解却相对较少。鉴于古细菌在自然和人为环境中的重要性日益增加，重要的是要描述这种信号现象在这一领域的广泛程度。利用基于质粒的AHL生物传感器与薄层色谱（TLC）结合，本研究针对潜在的信号传导活性筛选了广泛的euryarchaeota分离株。数据表明存在11种新的古细菌分离物，它们针对基于LuxR的AHL生物传感器具有AHL样的活性，首次包括在嗜热菌中推定的AHL活性。通过TLC还显示了多个信号的存在以及生长期之间的明显变化。使用TLC检测了多个信号分子粘膜厌氧杆菌，Kocurii嗜盐杆菌，隐球菌和盐卤杆菌。多个新型信号产生器的发现表明，群体感应的潜力不仅在古生菌内复杂表型的调节中起着重要作用，而且还可能与细菌系统发生串扰。