Session: Current Topics in Biological Chemistry:

Biofilms are the default state of microbial life and their formation on surfaces influences many processes. The coordinated behavior of microorganisms including their growth into biofilms occurs through a process termed quorum sensing. Microorganisms excrete specific signaling molecules called autoinducers. Recently it has been observed that Ag(I) and Cu(II) ions interact with N-hexanoyl-L-homoserine quenching quorum sensing. Ion pairing in autoinducers could provide key insights for engineering better protective coatings to counter biocorrosion. Our study combines molecular dynamics simulations and density functional theory calculations to study the interaction of the N-acyl homoserine lactone autoinducers with cations.

Bess Vlaisavljevich

University of Iowa

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