Stochasticity in the enterococcal sex pheromone response revealed by quantitative analysis of transcription in single cells.

ABSTRACT: In Enterococcus faecalis, sex pheromone-mediated transfer of antibiotic resistance plasmids can occur under unfavorable conditions, for example, when inducing pheromone concentrations are low and inhibiting pheromone concentrations are high. To better understand this paradox, we adapted fluorescence in situ hybridization chain reaction (HCR) methodology for simultaneous quantification of multiple E. faecalis transcripts at the single cell level. We present direct evidence for variability in the minimum period, maximum response level, and duration of response of individual cells to a specific inducing condition. Tracking of induction patterns of single cells temporally using a fluorescent reporter supported HCR findings. It also revealed subpopulations of rapid responders, even under low in

SUBMITTER: Breuer RJ 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5515443 | biostudies-literature | 2017 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature