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Octanoyl-L-homoserine lactone is an active quorum sensing modulator first recognised in Yersinia pseudotuberculosis. Octanoyl-L-homoserine lactone and other acylhomoserine lactones have been detected in hundreds of bacterial species and, while the homologues vary between species and strains, the homoserine lactones are the major chemical modulators of within and between cell communication and regulation. The most significant variable defining the function of the homoserine lactone is the length of the acyl chain, with shorter chains displaying opposing actions to the longer chains.

N-Octanoyl-L-homoserine lactone (C8-HSL) is a N-acyl homoserine lactone (N-acyl-HSL). It is highly nonpolar.

N-Octanoyl-L-homoserine lactone is a member of N-acyl-homoserine lactone family. N-Acylhomoserine lactones (AHL) regulate gene expression in gram-negative bacteria, such as Echerichia and Salmonella, and are involved in quorum sensing, colonization, chemical defense and cell to cell communication among bacteria; for reviews see. AHLs are released as oligopeptides in Gram positive bacteria and as quorum signal in Gram negative bacteria. Bacterial intercellular communication has become a target for the development of new anti-virulence drugs, and a research focus for the prevention of biofilm formation.