Microbial Communication via Pyrazine Signaling: a New Class of Signaling Molecules Identified in <i>Vibrio cholerae</i>

Quorum sensing is a microbial signaling process that relies on the production, release, and response to extracellular molecules called autoinducers. This Review covers quorum-sensing systems controlled by pyrazine-type autoinducer, 3,5-dimethyl-pyrazin-2-ol (DPO). The we cover span human pathogen Vibrio cholerae, where DPO regulates pathogenicity biofilm formation, phage VP882, controls lytic development viral dissemination. In both cases, detection of occurs via dedicated receptor-transcription factor VqmA. V. activates production VqmR regulatory RNA, in phage, triggers small protein Qtip. We present our current understanding biosynthesis, ongoing efforts resolve mechanisms underlying DPO-mediated signal transduction, forward-facing perspective role health undiscovered pyrazine-based signals biology, more broadly.