Comparative genome sequencing of Escherichia coli allows observation of bacterial evolution on a laboratory timescale.
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.
Herring
Christopher D
CD
Department of Bioengineering, University of California, San Diego, California 92093, USA.
Raghunathan
Anu
A
Honisch
Christiane
C
Patel
Trina
T
Applebee
M Kenyon
MK
Joyce
Andrew R
AR
Albert
Thomas J
TJ
Blattner
Frederick R
FR
van den Boom
Dirk
D
Cantor
Charles R
CR
Palsson
Bernhard Ø
BØ
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
D003470:Culture Media; D005990:Glycerol