A concentration-dependent switch in the bacterial response to temperature.
We observed that bacteria grown below a critical concentration, in batch-mode cultures, swim towards warm regions when subjected to a temperature gradient. Above that concentration, they swim towards colder regions. Our findings indicate that the secreted intercellular signal, glycine, mediates this switch through methylation of Tsr receptors. At high bacterial concentration, the switch is reinforced by an inversion of the Tar/Tsr expression ratio.
Salman
Hanna
H
Center for Studies in Physics and Biology, The Rockefeller University, New York, New York 10065, USA. salmanh@rockefeller.edu
Libchaber
Albert
A
D001426:Bacterial Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D002465:Cell Movement / Q000502:physiology*; D002628:Chemoreceptor Cells / Q000378:metabolism; D004926:Escherichia coli / Q000502:physiology*; D029968:Escherichia coli Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D008565:Membrane Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D000072236:Methyl-Accepting Chemotaxis Proteins; D011956:Receptors, Cell Surface; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000502:physiology; D013696:Temperature
D001426:Bacterial Proteins; D029968:Escherichia coli Proteins; D008565:Membrane Proteins; D000072236:Methyl-Accepting Chemotaxis Proteins; D011956:Receptors, Cell Surface; C057331:Tar protein, E coli; C000607604:tsr protein, E coli