Induces violacein expression in a Chromobacterium violaceum mutant usually not able to produce homoserine lactones.

N-Hexanoyl-DL-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, cell to cell communication among bacteria. Some AHLs are potent chemoattractants for human immune cells such as neutrophils.

Quorum-sensing signal generation.