<div><p>The etiologic agent of bubonic plague, <i>Yersinia pestis,</i> senses self-produced, secreted chemical signals in a process named quorum sensing. Though the closely related enteric pathogen <i>Y. pseudotuberculosis</i> uses quorum sensing system to regulate motility, the role of quorum sensing in <i>Y. pestis</i> has been unclear. In this study we performed transcriptional profiling experiments to identify <i>Y. pestis</i> quorum sensing regulated functions. Our analysis revealed that acyl-homoserine lactone-based quorum sensing controls the expression of several metabolic functions. Maltose fermentation and the glyoxylate bypass are induced by acyl-homoserine lactone signaling. This effect was observed at 30°C, indicating a potential role for quorum sensing regulation of metabolism at temperatures below the normal mammalian temperature. It is proposed that utilization of alternative carbon sources may enhance growth and/or survival during prolonged periods in natural habitats with limited nutrient sources, contributing to maintenance of plague in nature.</p></div
