The E. coli escape wave in response to external Zn²⁺ is zinc reserve-dependent.

ABSTRACT: The chemotaxis response of E. coli to metal cations is less understood than their response to organic molecules. Using dark-field videomicroscopy, E. coli behavior was analyzed in a 17 mm-long microfluidic channel exposed to a Zn(NO₃)₂ chemorepellent gradient, generated by a 250 mM solution placed in a well at the channel extremity, with or without prior Zn²⁺ pre-exposure of the cultures (10 µM). The bacteria exhibited an escape wave away from the zinc source. Compared to unexposed cultures, zinc pre-exposure resulted in a constant and shorter passage time at a given position of the wave peak, despite unchanged growth and swimming speed. The time lag decreased with growth duration. Given the one-dimensional gradient setup, this decrease is associated to a r

SUBMITTER: Braham A 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12686033 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature