N-acylhomoserine lactone (AHL)
N-acylhomoserine lactones are produced by both Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacteria and are important in quorum-sensing. Quorum-sensing is cell-to-cell communication which uses small-signal molecules to provide information about cell density in the bacterial population and coordinates gene regulation and other processes including biofilm formation, virulence traits, metabolism, and host-microbe interaction.
Reference:
Turkina MV, Vikström E. Bacteria-Host Crosstalk: Sensing of the Quorum in the Context of Pseudomonas aeruginosa Infections. J Innate Immun. 2019;11(3):263-279. doi: 10.1159/000494069. PMID: 30428481.