Bacteria communicate with one another using chemical signal molecules called autoinducers, and the most prevalent autoinducers used by Gram-negative bacteria are N-acylated homoserine lactones (AHLs). However, AHLs are hardly detected… Click to show full abstract
Bacteria communicate with one another using chemical signal molecules called autoinducers, and the most prevalent autoinducers used by Gram-negative bacteria are N-acylated homoserine lactones (AHLs). However, AHLs are hardly detected in Shewanella baltica, the specific spoilage organism of Pseudosciaena crocea. In this study, we applied ultrahigh-performance liquid chromatography coupled to triple quadrupole tandem mass spectrometry to determine AHLs. This method enabled the quantification of up to 11 AHLs within 5.6 min with excellent sensitivity (ng/mL level) and linearity (r2 > 0.99), which further detected 9 AHLs produced by S. baltica. Furthermore, by using a biofilm formation assay and statistical analysis, the biofilm-inducing activity of AHL in S. baltica was first revealed. Our results elucidated the physiological role of AHL in S. baltica and provided a satisfactory method to detect AHLs and a statistical model to predict food spoilage properties.
               
Click one of the above tabs to view related content.