Identification of quorum-sensing-regulated genes of Burkholderia cepacia.

Quorum sensing is a regulatory mechanism (operating in response to cell density) which in gram-negative bacteria usually involves the production of N-acyl homoserine lactones (HSL). Quorum sensing in Burkholderia cepacia has been associated with the regulation of expression of extracellular proteins and siderophores and also with the regulation of swarming and biofilm formation. In the present study, several quorum-sensing-controlled gene promoters of B. cepacia ATCC 25416 were identified and characterized. A total of 28 putative gene promoters show CepR-C(8)-HSL-dependent expression, suggesting that quorum sensing in B. cepacia is a global regulatory system.