title: Comparative genome sequencing of Escherichia coli allows observation of bacterial evolution on a laboratory timescale.
abstract: We applied whole-genome resequencing of Escherichia coli to monitor the acquisition and fixation of mutations that conveyed a selective growth advantage during adaptation to a glycerol-based growth medium. We identified 13 different de novo mutations in five different E. coli strains and monitored their fixation over a 44-d period of adaptation. We obtained proof that the observed spontaneous mutations were responsible for improved fitness by creating single, double and triple site-directed mutants that had growth rates matching those of the evolved strains. The success of this new genome-scale approach indicates that real-time evolution studies will now be practical in a wide variety of contexts.
authors.affiliation: Department of Bioengineering, University of California, San Diego, California 92093, USA.
authors.forename: Christopher D
authors.initials: CD
authors.lastname: Herring
authors.forename: Anu
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Raghunathan
authors.forename: Christiane
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Honisch
authors.forename: Trina
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Patel
authors.forename: M Kenyon
authors.initials: MK
authors.lastname: Applebee
authors.forename: Andrew R
authors.initials: AR
authors.lastname: Joyce
authors.forename: Thomas J
authors.initials: TJ
authors.lastname: Albert
authors.forename: Frederick R
authors.initials: FR
authors.lastname: Blattner
authors.forename: Dirk
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: van den Boom
authors.forename: Charles R
authors.initials: CR
authors.lastname: Cantor
authors.forename: Bernhard Ø
authors.initials: BØ
authors.lastname: Palsson
mesh_terms: D000222:Adaptation, Physiological; D003470:Culture Media; D019020:Directed Molecular Evolution; D004926:Escherichia coli / Q000235:genetics* / Q000254:growth & development / Q000502:physiology; D016680:Genome, Bacterial; D005838:Genotype; D005990:Glycerol / Q000378:metabolism; D016297:Mutagenesis, Site-Directed; D009154:Mutation; D012641:Selection, Genetic; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D003470:Culture Media; D005990:Glycerol