Induction of luciferase synthesis in Beneckea harveyi by other marine bacteria (original) (raw)

Abstract

It has been previously demonstrated that luciferase synthesis in the luminous marine bacteria, Beneckea harveyi and Photobacterium fischeri is induced only when sufficient concentrations of metabolic products (autoinducers) of these bacteria accumulate in growth media. Thus, when cells are cultured in liquid medium there is a lag in luciferase synthesis. A quantitative bioassay for B. harveyi autoinducer was developed and it was shown that many marine bacteria produce a substance that mimics its action, but in different amounts, (20–130% of the activity produced by B. harveyi) depending on the species and strain. This is referred to as alloinduction. None of the bacteria tested produced detectable quantities of inducer for P. fischeri luciferase synthesis. These findings may have significance with respect to the ecology of B. harveyi and P. fischeri.

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Abbreviations

AB medium:

autoinducer bioassay medium

References

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Author notes

1. J. W. Hastings
   Present address: Biological Laboratories, Harvard University, 02138, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA
2. E. P. Greenberg
   Present address: Department of Microbiology, Cornell University, 4853, Ithaca, New York, USA
3. S. Ulitzur
   Present address: Department of Food Engineering and Biotechnology, Technion-Israel Institute for Technology, Haifa, Israel

Authors and Affiliations

1. Biological Laboratories, Harvard University, 02138, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA
   E. P. Greenberg & S. Ulitzur

Authors

1. E. P. Greenberg
2. J. W. Hastings
3. S. Ulitzur

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Greenberg, E.P., Hastings, J.W. & Ulitzur, S. Induction of luciferase synthesis in Beneckea harveyi by other marine bacteria.Arch. Microbiol. 120, 87–91 (1979). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00409093

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• Received: 03 August 1978
• Issue date: February 1979
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00409093

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