N-Tetradecanoyl-DL-homoserine lactone is a small diffusible signaling molecule and is a member of N-acyl-homoserine lactone family. N-acylhomoserine lactones (AHL) are involved in quorum sensing, controlling gene expression, and cellular metabolism. The diverse applications of this kind of molecule include regulation of virulence in general, infection prevention, and formation of biofilms. It appears later than shorter acyl chain AHLs in developing biofilms and, like other long chain AHLs, stimulates bacterial growth. C14-HSL also alters the proteolytic activity and enhances the migration of some strains of Proteus mirabilis. Induces violacein expression in a Chromobacterium violaceum mutant usually not able to produce homoserine lactones.