Compositions and methods of using inducible signaling for tunable dynamics in microbial communities

A method of inducing quorum sensing, the method comprising:

• (a) culturing an Escherichia coli bacterial strain, wherein the Escherichia coli bacterial strain comprises
• (i) a first nucleic acid sequence encoding p-coumaric acid-CoA ligase from Nicotiana tabacum (4CL2nt), wherein expression of the p-coumaric acid-CoA ligase first activator polypeptide results in production of coumaroyl-CoA, wherein the first nucleic acid sequence is operably linked to a pLux promoter;
• (ii) a second nucleic acid sequence encoding an RpaI synthase, wherein expression of the RpaI synthase results in production of p-coumaroyl-homoserine lactone from coumaroyl-CoA, wherein the second nucleic acid sequence is operably linked to a pLux promoter;
• (iii) a third nucleic acid sequence encoding an RpaR transcriptional regulator, wherein expression of the RpaR transcriptional regulator results in activation of a quorum sensing system, wherein the third nucleic acid sequence is operably linked to a pLux promoter;
• and
• (iv) a fourth nucleic acid sequence encoding a reporter protein, wherein the second and third nucleic acid sequences together form the quorum sensing system responsive to p-coumaroyl-homoserine lactone the fourth nucleic acid sequence is operably linked to the J23106 constitutive promoter;
• and
• (b) contacting the Escherichia coli bacterial strain with p-coumaric acid;
• and
• (c) converting p-coumaric acid into p-coumaroyl-homoserine lactone via steps (i)-(ii), thereby inducing quorum sensing.