Transcriptional Infidelity and Heritable Changes in Bacteria
Author Information
Author(s): Gordon Alasdair J. E, Halliday Jennifer A, Blankschien Matthew D, Burns Philip A, Yatagai Fumio, Herman Christophe
Primary Institution: Baylor College of Medicine
Hypothesis
Can transient RNA errors during transcription lead to heritable phenotypic changes in bacteria?
Conclusion
Transcription infidelity can increase the frequency of heritable phenotypic changes in genetically identical bacterial cells.
Supporting Evidence
- Transient RNA errors can lead to heritable changes in gene expression.
- Cells with error-prone RNA polymerases showed increased epigenetic-switch frequency.
- Stochastic switching in gene expression can mimic genetic mutations.
Takeaway
Sometimes, mistakes made when copying DNA into RNA can change how bacteria behave, and these changes can be passed on to their offspring.
Methodology
Single-cell analysis of the lac operon in E. coli was used to monitor the effects of transcription errors on heritable phenotypic changes.
Limitations
The study primarily focuses on a specific gene network and may not generalize to all biological systems.
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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