Microanatomy at cellular resolution and spatial order of physiological differentiation in a bacterial biofilm.

ABSTRACT:

Unlabelled

Bacterial biofilms are highly structured multicellular communities whose formation involves flagella and an extracellular matrix of adhesins, amyloid fibers, and exopolysaccharides. Flagella are produced by still-dividing rod-shaped Escherichia coli cells during postexponential growth when nutrients become suboptimal. Upon entry into stationary phase, however, cells stop producing flagella, become ovoid, and generate amyloid curli fibers. These morphological changes, as well as accompanying global changes in gene expression and cellular physiology, depend on the induction of the stationary-phase sigma subunit of RNA polymerase, σ(S) (RpoS), the nucleotide second messengers cyclic AMP (cAMP), ppGpp, and cyclic-di-GMP, and a biofilm-controlling transcription factor, CsgD.

SUBMITTER: Serra DO 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3604763 | biostudies-literature | 2013 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature