A target-specific bioassay for screening of bioactive AHL-analogues from natural products

Acylated homoserine lactones (AHLs) are membrane-permeant signal molecules responsible for biofilm formation of gram-negative bacteria via a unique mechanism known as quorum sensing. A target specific bioassay employing the AHL-responsive Agrobacterium tumefaciens reporter strain has been developed to identify new AHL-like compounds from natural products, which could be developed into antifouling compounds. By varying the X-gal concentration, incubation time, solvent for sample preparation and the sample loading procedure, it was possible to detect low level AHLs up to $10^1nM$. The length of the acyl chain of the AHLs was found to affect the sensitivity of this bioassay.