title: Pigmentation and sporulation are alternative cell fates in Bacillus pumilus SF214.
abstract: Bacillus pumilus SF214 is a spore forming bacterium, isolated from a marine sample, able to produce a matrix and a orange-red, water soluble pigment. Pigmentation is strictly regulated and high pigment production was observed during the late stationary growth phase in a minimal medium and at growth temperatures lower than the optimum. Only a subpopulation of stationary phase cells produced the pigment, indicating that the stationary culture contains a heterogeneous cell population and that pigment synthesis is a bimodal phenomenon. The fraction of cells producing the pigment varied in the different growth conditions and occurred only in cells not devoted to sporulation. Only some of the pigmented cells were also able to produce a matrix. Pigment and matrix production in SF214 appear then as two developmental fates both alternative to sporulation. Since the pigment had an essential role in the cell resistance to oxidative stress conditions, we propose that within the heterogeneous population different survival strategies can be followed by the different cells.
authors: Department of Biology, Federico II University, Napoli, Italy.
authors: Nicola
authors: N
authors: Manzo
authors: Blanda
authors: B
authors: Di Luccia
authors: Rachele
authors: R
authors: Isticato
authors: Enrica
authors: E
authors: D'Apuzzo
authors: Maurilio
authors: M
authors: De Felice
authors: Ezio
authors: E
authors: Ricca
mesh_terms: D001407:Bacillus / Q000166:cytology* / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D003470:Culture Media / Q000737:chemistry; D006861:Hydrogen Peroxide / Q000494:pharmacology; D018384:Oxidative Stress / Q000187:drug effects; D010858:Pigmentation / Q000187:drug effects; D013171:Spores, Bacterial / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology; D013696:Temperature
chemical_list: D003470:Culture Media; D006861:Hydrogen Peroxide
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