Insights into the Activity, Production, and Signaling Circuits of Homoserine Lactones in Mammalian Cells

Cell-to-cell communication via metabolite-based signaling is a well-established phenomenon in bacteria, with Acyl-Homoserine Lactones (AHLs) acting as a universal signaling language. While AHLs are known for their physiological functions in bacteria, growing evidence indicates that they can also influence the behavior and viability of human and mammalian cells. This suggests a broader role for AHLs as inter-kingdom signaling molecules. To explore this further, we conducted a meta-analysis of prior research to characterize the effects of AHLs and assess their function as signaling agents. Given their evolutionary relevance and the identification of specific receptors and functional roles, we asked a critical question: could mammalian and human cells synthesize AHLs or structurally related molecules?