Article: Research from Technical University in the area of biochemistry described.(Report)

According to a study from Braunschweig, Germany, "N-Acylhomoserine lactones (AHLs) are used by a wide-variety of bacteria for cell-cell communication in ''quorum sensing''. These compounds are derived from L-homoserine lactone and a fatty acid, which varies in chain-length, degree of saturation, and the presence or absence of an oxygen atom at C-3."

"In this study we describe for the first time the occurrence of acyl chains carrying a methyl branch, and present a Gc-MS-based method that can be used to distinguish these compounds from unbranched isomers. The bacterium Aeromonas culicicola produces several methyl branched AHLs. In Jannaschia helgolandensis--a ...

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