Research interest: Quorum sensing (QS) is a cell-to-cell communication system in which bacteria synthesize, release, and detect extracellular signals called autoinducers. Autoinducers (AI) accumulate in proportion to cell density. This allows bacteria to monitor changes in their cell numbers and collectively alter gene expression to enact individual or group behaviors. Our lab has identified a new V. cholerae QS system in which a transcriptional activator called VqmA binds to the AI 3,5-dimethyl-pyrazin-ol (DPO) to repress virulence factor production and biofilm formation. Threonine dehydrogenase (Tdh), an enzyme required for DPO biosynthesis, is highly conserved among bacteria, archaea, and eukarya. Thus, DPO appears to be broadly made by different organisms. However, the current model for DPO biosynthesis is incomplete. Tdh converts L-Thr to aminoacetone, which is condensed with L-Ala via an unidentified enzyme(s) to ultimately yield DPO. Interestingly, although V. cholerae can make L-Thr, only externally provided L-Thr is incorporated into DPO. My research seeks to understand DPO biosynthesis and regulation in V. cholerae. Specifically, I aim to characterize the precursors and enzyme(s) required for DPO synthesis in vitro, determine their localization and biological relevance in vivo, and identify environmental regulators of DPO biosynthesis. This work will further our understanding of how hosts make, utilize, and regulate DPO to orchestrate collective behaviors across kingdoms.