Hydrolases;
Acting on ester bonds;
Carboxylic-ester hydrolases
BRITE hierarchy

N-acyl-L-homoserine-lactone lactonohydrolase

an N-acyl-L-homoserine lactone + H2O = an N-acyl-L-homoserine [RN:R08970]

R08970
Reaction

N-acyl-L-homoserine lactone [CPD:C18049];
H2O [CPD:C00001]

Acyl-homoserine lactones (AHLs) are produced by a number of bacterial species and are used by them to regulate the expression of virulence genes in a process known as quorum-sensing. Each bacterial cell has a basal level of AHL and, once the population density reaches a critical level, it triggers AHL-signalling which, in turn, initiates the expression of particular virulence genes [5]. Plants or animals capable of degrading AHLs would have a therapeutic advantage in avoiding bacterial infection as they could prevent AHL-signalling and the expression of virulence genes in quorum-sensing bacteria [5]. N-(3-Oxohexanoyl)-L-homoserine lactone, N-(3-oxododecanoyl)-L-homoserine lactone, N-butanoyl-L-homoserine lactone and N-(3-oxooctanoyl)-L-homoserine lactone can act as substrates [5].

EC 3.1.1.81 created 2007