Molecular genetics of biosurfactant production

Biosurfactants are surface-active microbial products that have numerous industrial applications. The molecular genetics of two structurally diverse biosurfactants, a glycolipid and a lipopeptide, were the first to be characterized. Recent advances include the identification of the structural genes for a second lipopeptide, and the isolation of a gene responsible for enhanced emulsification activity of a high molecular weight biopolymer. New insight has also developed in the regulatory mechanisms of the originally described biosurfactants, both of which are controlled by quorum sensing, a mechanism bacteria use to monitor cell density.