N-acyl homoserine lactone production by bacteria within the sponge Suberites domuncula (Olivi, 1792) (Porifera, Demospongiae)

• Published in: Marine biology 2012-08, Vol.159 (8), p.1685-1692
• Main Authors: Gardères, Johan, Taupin, Laure, Saïdin, Jasnizat Bin, Dufour, Alain, Le Pennec, Gaël
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Animal and plant ecology; Animal, plant and microbial ecology; Aquatic life; Bacteria; Bacteriology; Biological and medical sciences; Biomedical and Life Sciences; Demospongiae; E coli; Escherichia coli; Freshwater & Marine Ecology; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Hormones; Host-bacteria relationships; Invertebrates; Lactones; Life Sciences; Marine; Marine & Freshwater Sciences; Marine biology; Microbiology; Microbiology and Parasitology; Oceanography; Original Paper; Porifera; Sea water ecosystems; Suberites; Suberites domuncula; Synecology; Zoology
• ISSN: 0025-3162; 1432-1793
• DOI: 10.1007/s00227-012-1956-z

Many bacteria live in close association with sponges. Within these consortia, molecules of communication such as quorum-sensing and hormone-like molecules may occur in order to regulate the partnership. Of particular interest, bacterial N -acyl- l -homoserine lactones (AHLs) were screened in supernatants from Suberites domuncula -associated bacteria using an E. coli bioluminescent reporter system. These sponge-associated bacteria were beforehand isolated on several media supplemented or not with a sponge extract to attempt to isolate sponge-specific bacteria. Out of 81 AHL-producing bacteria, three strains requiring sponge extract to grow were selected for AHL characterization. The in vitro produced AHLs, that is, in bacterial culture supernatants, were identified as N -(3-butanoyl)- l -homoserine lactone and N -(3-oxododecanoyl)- l -homoserine lactone and quantified using LC–ESI–MS/MS. The in vivo production of AHLs by sponge-associated bacteria has also been demonstrated in a healthy host for the first time: N -(3-oxododecanoyl)- l -homoserine lactone, N -(3-hexanoyl)- l -homoserine lactone, and N -(3-heptanoyl)- l -homoserine lactone. This AHL production in sponges may suggest a potential role of these molecules between sponge-associated bacteria and/or between sponge-associated bacteria and the sponge.