Phenotypic Heterogeneity and the Evolution of Bacterial Life Cycles.

ABSTRACT: Most bacteria live in colonies, where they often express different cell types. The ecological significance of these cell types and their evolutionary origin are often unknown. Here, we study the evolution of cell differentiation in the context of surface colonization. We particularly focus on the evolution of a 'sticky' cell type that is required for surface attachment, but is costly to express. The sticky cells not only facilitate their own attachment, but also that of non-sticky cells. Using individual-based simulations, we show that surface colonization rapidly evolves and in most cases leads to phenotypic heterogeneity, in which sticky and non-sticky cells occur side by side on the surface. In the presence of regulation, cell differentiation leads to a remarkable set of bacterial life

SUBMITTER: van Gestel J 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4760940 | biostudies-literature | 2016 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature