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Signatures of kin selection in a natural population of the bacteria Bacillus subtilis.

ABSTRACT: Laboratory experiments have suggested that bacteria perform a range of cooperative behaviors, which are favored because they are directed toward relatives (kin selection). However, there is a lack of evidence for cooperation and kin selection in natural bacterial populations. Molecular population genetics offers a promising method to study natural populations because the theory predicts that kin selection will lead to relaxed selection, which will result in increased polymorphism and divergence at cooperative genes. Examining a natural population of Bacillus subtilis, we found consistent evidence that putatively cooperative traits have higher polymorphism and greater divergence than putatively private traits expressed at the same rate. In addition, we were able to eliminate alternative explanations for these patterns and found more deleterious mutations in genes controlling putatively cooperative traits. Overall, our results suggest that cooperation is favored by kin selection, with an average relatedness of r = .79 between interacting individuals.

SUBMITTER: Belcher LJ

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10565896 | biostudies-literature | 2023 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Signatures of kin selection in a natural population of the bacteria <i>Bacillus subtilis</i>.

Belcher Laurence J LJ Dewar Anna E AE Hao Chunhui C Ghoul Melanie M West Stuart A SA

Evolution letters 20230718 5

Laboratory experiments have suggested that bacteria perform a range of cooperative behaviors, which are favored because they are directed toward relatives (kin selection). However, there is a lack of evidence for cooperation and kin selection in natural bacterial populations. Molecular population genetics offers a promising method to study natural populations because the theory predicts that kin selection will lead to relaxed selection, which will result in increased polymorphism and divergence ...[more]

PMID: 37829498

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Project description:BackgroundMicrobially induced calcite precipitation (MICP) is an ancient property of bacteria, which has recently gained considerable attention for biotechnological applications. It occurs as a by-product of bacterial metabolism and involves a combination of chemical changes in the extracellular environment, e.g. pH increase, and presence of nucleation sites on the cell surface or extracellular substances produced by the bacteria. However, the molecular mechanisms underpinning MICP and the interplay between the contributing factors remain poorly understood, thus placing barriers to the full biotechnological and synthetic biology exploitation of bacterial biomineralisation.ResultsIn this study, we adopted a bottom-up approach of systematically engineering Bacillus subtilis, which has no detectable intrinsic MICP activity, for biomineralisation. We showed that heterologous production of urease can induce MICP by local increases in extracellular pH, and this can be enhanced by co-expression of urease accessory genes for urea and nickel uptake, depending on environmental conditions. MICP can be strongly enhanced by biofilm-promoting conditions, which appeared to be mainly driven by production of exopolysaccharide, while the protein component of the biofilm matrix was dispensable. Attempts to modulate the cell surface charge of B. subtilis had surprisingly minor effects, and our results suggest this organism may intrinsically have a very negative cell surface, potentially predisposing it for MICP activity.ConclusionsOur findings give insights into the molecular mechanisms driving MICP in an application-relevant chassis organism and the genetic elements that can be used to engineer de novo or enhanced biomineralisation. This study also highlights mutual influences between the genetic drivers and the chemical composition of the surrounding environment in determining the speed, spatial distribution and resulting mineral crystals of MICP. Taken together, these data pave the way for future rational design of synthetic precipitator strains optimised for specific applications.

Dataset Information

Signatures of kin selection in a natural population of the bacteria Bacillus subtilis.

Publications

Signatures of kin selection in a natural population of the bacteria <i>Bacillus subtilis</i>.

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Signatures of kin selection in a natural population of the bacteria Bacillus subtilis.

Publications

Signatures of kin selection in a natural population of the bacteria &lt;i&gt;Bacillus subtilis&lt;/i&gt;.

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OmicsDI is part of the ELIXIR infrastructure

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Signatures of kin selection in a natural population of the bacteria <i>Bacillus subtilis</i>.