Indole as an intercellular signal in microbial communities

• Published in: FEMS microbiology reviews Vol. 34; no. 4; pp. 426 - 444
• Main Authors: Lee, Jin-Hyung, Lee, Jintae
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Oxford, UK Blackwell Publishing Ltd 01.07.2010; Blackwell; Oxford University Press
• Subjects: autoinducer 2; Bacteria; Bacteria - growth & development; Bacteria - metabolism; Bacterial Physiological Phenomena; Bacterial physiology; biofilm; Biofilms; Biofilms - growth & development; Biological and medical sciences; Drug resistance; Drug Resistance, Bacterial; Ecological balance; Ecology; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Gene Expression Regulation, Bacterial; Gram-negative bacteria; indole; Indoles; Indoles - metabolism; Microbial activity; Microbiology; Microorganisms; Natural environment; Physiology; Plasmids; Quorum Sensing; signal interference; signal molecule; Signal Transduction; Signaling; Virulence; indole; signal molecule; signal interference; autoinducer 2; biofilm; Indole; Biofilm; Review; Microbial community
• ISSN: 0168-6445; 1574-6976; 1574-6976
• DOI: 10.1111/j.1574-6976.2009.00204.x

Abstract Bacteria can utilize signal molecules to coordinate their behavior to survive in dynamic multispecies communities. Indole is widespread in the natural environment, as a variety of both Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria (to date, 85 species) produce large quantities of indole. Although it has been known for over 100 years that many bacteria produce indole, the real biological roles of this molecule are only now beginning to be unveiled. As an intercellular signal molecule, indole controls diverse aspects of bacterial physiology, such as spore formation, plasmid stability, drug resistance, biofilm formation, and virulence in indole-producing bacteria. In contrast, many non-indole-producing bacteria, plants and animals produce diverse oxygenases which may interfere with indole signaling. It appears indole plays an important role in bacterial physiology, ecological balance, and possibly human health. Here we discuss our current knowledge and perspectives on indole signaling.