N-acyl-homoserine-lactones signaling as a critical control point for phosphorus entrapment by multi-species microbial aggregates

Quorum sensing (QS) has been extensively studied in pure stains of microorganisms, but the ecological roles QS multi-species microbial aggregates are poorly understood due to aggregates’ heterogeneity and complexity, particular phosphorus (P) entrapment, a key aspect element cycling. Using periphytic biofilm as microbial-aggregate model, we addressed how signaling via N-acyl-homoserine-lactones (AHLs) regulated P entrapment. The most-abundant AHLs detected were C8-HSL, 3OC8-HSL, C12-HSL, primary regulator entrapment biofilm. signaling-AHL is beneficial molecule for bacterial growth addition these three optimized polyphosphate accumulating organisms (PAOs) community. Growth promotion was accompanied by up-regulation pyrimidine, purine energy metabolism. Both intra- extra-cellular enhanced AHLs. increased extracellular polymeric substances (EPS) production drive up-regulating amino acids biosynthesis sugar/nucleotide sugar Also, improved intracellular potential regulating genes involved inorganic-P accumulation (ppk, ppx) uptake transport (pit, pstSCAB). This proof-of-concept evidence about regulates paves way managing enhance removal aquatic environments.