Communications blackout? Do N-acylhomoserine-lactone-degrading enzymes have any role in quorum sensing?

A number of bacteria, including some significant pathogens, utilize N-acylhomoserine lactones (AHLs) as quorum sensing signals. There is considerable interest in the therapeutic potential of disrupting quorum sensing. Recently, a number of bacteria have been identified which are capable of enzymic inactivation of AHLs. These enzymes show considerable promise as 'quenchers' of quorum sensing. However, the assumption that the natural function of these enzymes is to disrupt or modulate quorum sensing has yet to be established. This review surveys the progress made to date in this field and examines what implications these findings have for our understanding of the role played by these enzymes in vivo.