Physical constraints and biological regulations underlie universal osmoresponses.

ABSTRACT: Microorganisms constantly transition between environments with dramatically different external osmolarities. However, theories of microbial osmoresponse integrating physical constraints and biological regulations are lacking. Here, we propose such a theory, utilizing the separation of timescales for passive responses and active regulations. We demonstrate that regulations of osmolyte production and cell-wall synthesis assist cells in coping with intracellular crowding effects and adapting to a broad range of external osmolarity. Furthermore, we predict a threshold value above which cells cannot grow, ubiquitous across bacteria and yeast. Intriguingly, the theory predicts a dramatic speedup of cell growth after an abrupt decrease in external osmolarity due to cell-wall synthesis regulation.

SUBMITTER: Ye Y 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12266720 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature