Structural elucidation and biological activity of acyl-homoserine lactones from the phytopathogen Pantoea ananatis Serrano 1928.

In Gram-negative bacteria, the acyl-homoserine lactones (acyl-HSLs) are the main signaling substances employed in cell-to-cell communication systems. This paper describes the chemical characterization of acyl-HSLs produced by the worldwide-spread phytopathogen Pantoea ananatis (Serrano 1928) by using gas chromatography-electron impact mass spectrometry. The absolute configuration of the major identified substance, (S)-(--)-N-hexanoyl-HSL, was determined with gas chromatography-flame ionization detection with a chiral capillary column. Biological activities of extracts, fractions, and synthetic products were evaluated with the specific reporter Agrobacterium tumefaciensNTL4(pZLR4) in beta-galactosidase expression assays.