Differences in signalling by directly and indirectly binding ligands in bacterial chemotaxis.

ABSTRACT: In chemotaxis of Escherichia coli and other bacteria, extracellular stimuli are perceived by transmembrane receptors that bind their ligands either directly, or indirectly through periplasmic-binding proteins (BPs). As BPs are also involved in ligand uptake, they provide a link between chemotaxis and nutrient utilization by cells. However, signalling by indirectly binding ligands remains much less understood than signalling by directly binding ligands. Here, we compared intracellular responses mediated by both types of ligands and developed a new mathematical model for signalling by indirectly binding ligands. We show that indirect binding allows cells to better control sensitivity to specific ligands in response to their nutrient environment and to coordinate chemotaxis with ligand transp

SUBMITTER: Neumann S 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC2964171 | biostudies-literature | 2010 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature