2. Academic Validation
  3. Realizing the role of N-acyl-homoserine lactone-mediated quorum sensing in nitrification and denitrification: A review

Realizing the role of N-acyl-homoserine lactone-mediated quorum sensing in nitrification and denitrification: A review

  • Chemosphere. 2021 Jul;274:129970. doi: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2021.129970.
Na Wang 1,  Jie Gao 2,  Ying Liu 3,  Qiuying Wang 1,  Xuliang Zhuang 1,  Guoqiang Zhuang 4
Affiliations

Affiliations

  • 1 CAS Key Laboratory of Environmental Biotechnology, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100085, China; College of Resources and Environment, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China.
  • 2 CAS Key Laboratory of Environmental Biotechnology, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100085, China; College of Resources and Environment, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China. Electronic address: [email protected].
  • 3 CAS Key Laboratory of Environmental Biotechnology, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100085, China; School of Life Sciences, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, 230026, China.
  • 4 CAS Key Laboratory of Environmental Biotechnology, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100085, China; College of Resources and Environment, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China. Electronic address: [email protected].
PMID: 33979914 DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2021.129970
Abstract

Nitrification and denitrification are crucial processes in the nitrogen cycle, a vital microbially driven biogeochemical cycle. N-acyl-homoserine lactone (AHL)-mediated quorum sensing (QS) is widespread in bacteria and plays a key role in their physiological status. Recently, there has been an increase in research into how the AHL-mediated QS system is involved in nitrification and denitrification. Consequentially, the AHL-mediated QS system has been considered a promising regulatory approach in nitrogen metabolism processes, with high potential for real-world applications. In this review, the universal presence of QS in nitrifiers and denitrifiers is summarized. Many Microorganisms taking part in nitrification and denitrification harbor QS genes, and they may produce AHLs with different chain lengths. The phenotypes and processes affected by QS in real-world applications are also reviewed. In wastewater bioreactors, QS could affect nitrogen metabolism efficiency, granule aggregation, and biofilm formation. Furthermore, methods commonly used to identify the existence and functions of QS, including physiological tests, genetic manipulation and omics analyses are discussed.

Keywords

Denitrifying bacteria; Genetic manipulation; Nitrifying bacteria; Omics technologies; Quorum sensing.

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