Signaling noise enhances chemotactic drift of E. coli.
Noise in the transduction of chemotactic stimuli to the flagellar motor of E. coli will affect the random run-and-tumble motion of the cell and the ability to perform chemotaxis. Here we use numerical simulations to show that an intermediate level of noise in the slow methylation dynamics enhances drift while not compromising localization near concentration peaks. A minimal model shows how such an optimal noise level arises from the interplay of noise and the dependence of the motor response on the network output. Our results suggest that cells can exploit noise to improve chemotactic performance.
FOM Institute AMOLF, Science Park 104, 1098XE, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
Marlo
M
Flores
Thomas S
TS
Shimizu
Pieter Rein
PR
ten Wolde
Filipe
F
Tostevin
D002630:Chemotactic Factors / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology; D002633:Chemotaxis / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D003198:Computer Simulation; D004926:Escherichia coli / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D008745:Methylation; D008954:Models, Biological; D011956:Receptors, Cell Surface / Q000378:metabolism
D002630:Chemotactic Factors; D011956:Receptors, Cell Surface