Dynamics of Feedback Loops in Bacterial Sporulation
Author Information
Author(s): Sen Shaunak, Garcia-Ojalvo Jordi, Elowitz Michael B.
Primary Institution: California Institute of Technology
Hypothesis
How do bandpass and pulsatile features of the phosphorelay circuit affect the approach to sporulation in individual cells?
Conclusion
The study shows that periodically-driven bandpass feedback loops can lead to complex dynamics in the progression towards sporulation.
Supporting Evidence
- The phosphorelay activation occurs in pulses, which affects the dynamics of sporulation.
- Single-cell measurements confirmed the predicted delayed phase shift between sporulation components.
- An increase in spo0F copy number leads to a non-sporulating alternate state.
Takeaway
Bacteria can switch to a dormant state when food is low, and this study looks at how their internal signals help them do that in a step-by-step way.
Methodology
The study used time-lapse fluorescence microscopy and mathematical modeling to analyze the dynamics of sporulation in Bacillus subtilis.
Limitations
The exact values of parameters in the model require further investigation.
Statistical Information
P-Value
p<10−7
Statistical Significance
p<10−7
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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