Suboptimal resource allocation in changing environments constrains response and growth in bacteria.
Mol Syst Biol
; 17(12): e10597, 2021 12.
Article
em En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-34928547
ABSTRACT
To respond to fluctuating conditions, microbes typically need to synthesize novel proteins. As this synthesis relies on sufficient biosynthetic precursors, microbes must devise effective response strategies to manage depleting precursors. To better understand these strategies, we investigate the active response of Escherichia coli to changes in nutrient conditions, connecting transient gene expression to growth phenotypes. By synthetically modifying gene expression during changing conditions, we show how the competition by genes for the limited protein synthesis capacity constrains cellular response. Despite this constraint cells substantially express genes that are not required, trapping them in states where precursor levels are low and the genes needed to replenish the precursors are outcompeted. Contrary to common modeling assumptions, our findings highlight that cells do not optimize growth under changing environments but rather exhibit hardwired response strategies that may have evolved to promote fitness in their native environment. The constraint and the suboptimality of the cellular response uncovered provide a conceptual framework relevant for many research applications, from the prediction of evolution to the improvement of gene circuits in biotechnology.
Palavras-chave
Texto completo:
1
Coleções:
01-internacional
Base de dados:
MEDLINE
Assunto principal:
Bactérias
/
Escherichia coli
Tipo de estudo:
Prognostic_studies
Idioma:
En
Revista:
Mol Syst Biol
Assunto da revista:
BIOLOGIA MOLECULAR
/
BIOTECNOLOGIA
Ano de publicação:
2021
Tipo de documento:
Article
País de afiliação:
Estados Unidos