Quorum sensing and starvation: signals for entry into stationary phase.

Quorum sensing occurs at high cell density in many microorganisms. It regulates specialized processes such as genetic competence, bioluminescence, virulence, and sporulation. However, recent evidence suggests that quorum-sensing may play a more central role in the physiology of bacteria, where quorum-sensing pathways converge with starvation-sensing pathways to regulate cell entry into stationary phase.