群感效应对电活性微生物胞外电子传递的影响

Advances in understanding the impact of quorum sensing on extracellular electron transfer of electroactive microorganisms

摘要:

群感效应（quorum sensing，QS）是微生物之间以信号分子受体蛋白感知信号浓度变化，从而调控菌群的行为及功能，使其适应环境变化的信号通讯机制。电活性微生物（electroactive microorganisms，EAMs）能进行胞外电子传递，在可再生能源利用和环境修复方面具有广阔的应用前景。近年来，关于QS在EAMs胞外电子传递中的作用的研究日益增多。本文总结了QS对纯EAMs或混合产电菌群的直接或间接电子传递的影响效应及机制，阐述了基于QS的EAMs逻辑与门的构建及其应用前景，并从机制研究的角度展望其未来发展方向。

Abstract:

Quorum sensing (QS) is a ubiquitous cell-cell communication mechanism in which microorganisms secrete and respond to signaling molecules by synthases and regulatory proteins to adapt to environmental changes. Electroactive microorganisms (EAMs) are capable of extracellular electron transfer and have broad application prospects in renewable energy utilization and environmental remediation. Recently, an increasing number of studies have focused on the roles of QS in the extracellular electron transfer of EAMs. In this review, we summarized the effect and mechanisms of QS in EAMs. QS influences pure-culture EAMs through an indirect electron transfer mechanism by stimulating or suppressing electron shuttle production. QS improves the electroactivity of pure-culture EAMs through a direct electron transfer mechanism by stimulating biofilm formation and changing the abundance and structure of the outermost surface proteins. QS enhances the electroactivity of mixed-culture EAMs by promoting biofilm formation and increasing the relative abundance of EAMs inside the biofilm. We also review the construction and application potential of QS and EAM-based AND logic gates and propose future research directions from the perspectives of mechanistic research.