title: Programmed heterogeneity: epigenetic mechanisms in bacteria.
abstract: Contrary to the traditional view that bacterial populations are clonal, single-cell analysis reveals that phenotypic heterogeneity is common in bacteria. Formation of distinct bacterial lineages appears to be frequent during adaptation to harsh environments, including the colonization of animals by bacterial pathogens. Formation of bacterial subpopulations is often controlled by epigenetic mechanisms that generate inheritable phenotypic diversity without altering the DNA sequence. Such mechanisms are diverse, ranging from relatively simple feedback loops to complex self-perpetuating DNA methylation patterns.
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Genética, Facultad de Biología, Universidad de Sevilla, 41080 Seville, Spain. Electronic address: casadesus@us.es.
authors.forename: Josep
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Casadesús
authors.affiliation: Department of Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology, University of California, Santa Barbara, California 93106. Electronic address: david.low@lifesci.ucsb.edu.
authors.forename: David A
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Low
mesh_terms: D001419:Bacteria / Q000235:genetics*; D001424:Bacterial Infections / Q000382:microbiology; D019175:DNA Methylation; D044127:Epigenesis, Genetic; D004926:Escherichia coli / Q000235:genetics; D025461:Feedback, Physiological; D015964:Gene Expression Regulation, Bacterial; D008780:Methyltransferases / Q000235:genetics; D008957:Models, Genetic; D010641:Phenotype; D012475:Salmonella / Q000235:genetics
chemical_list: D008780:Methyltransferases
keywords: Bacterial Genetics; DNA Methylation; DNA Methylation Pattern; DNA Methyltransferase; Epigenetics; Escherichia coli; Gene Regulation; Genetic Switch; Phase Variation; Reversible Bistability