| Summary: | Many Gram-negative bacteria can regulate gene expression in a cell density-dependent manner via quorum-sensing systems using <i>N</i>-acyl-homoserine lactones (AHLs), which are typical quorum-sensing signaling molecules, and thus modulate physiological characteristics. <i>N</i>-acyl-homoserine lactones are small chemical molecules produced at low concentrations by bacteria and are, therefore, difficult to detect. Here, a biosensor system method and liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry were combined to detect and assay AHL production. As demonstrated by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry, <i>Gluconacetobacter xylinus</i> CGMCC No. 2955, a Gram-negative acetic acid-producing bacterium and a typical bacterial cellulose (BC) biosynthesis strain, produces six different AHLs, including <i>N</i>-acetyl-homoserine lactone, <i>N</i>-butanoyl-homoserine lactone, <i>N</i>-hexanoyl-homoserine lactone, <i>N</i>-3-oxo-decanoyl-homoserine lactone, <i>N</i>-dodecanoyl-homoserine lactone, and <i>N</i>-tetradecanoyl-homoserine lactone. <i>Gluconacetobacter sp.</i> strain SX-1, another Gram-negative acetic acid-producing bacterium, which can synthesize BC, produces seven different AHLs including <i>N</i>-acetyl-homoserine lactone, <i>N</i>-butanoyl-homoserine lactone, <i>N</i>-hexanoyl-homoserine lactone, <i>N</i>-3-oxo-octanoyl-homoserine lactone, <i>N</i>-decanoyl-homoserine lactone, <i>N</i>-dodecanoyl-homoserine lactone, and <i>N</i>-tetradecanoyl-homoserine lactone. These results lay the foundation for investigating the relationship between BC biosynthesis and quorum-sensing systems.
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