十二烷基-L-高丝氨酸内酯被确认为首先在蜜蜂中被鉴定出的活性群体感应调节剂。高丝氨酸内酯是细胞内通讯和调节之间以及之间和通讯之间的主要化学调节剂。定义高丝氨酸内酯功能的最重要变量是酰基链的长度，较短的链显示出与较长的链相反的作用。 Dodecanoyl-L-homoserine lactone was confirmed to be an active quorum sensing modulator first recognised in|Sinorhizobium meliloti|. 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.