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Symmetry breaking and inter-clonal behavioural variability in a slime mould.

ABSTRACT: Cells are dynamic systems capable of switching from isotropic growth to polarized growth even in the absence of any pre-existing external asymmetry. Here, we study this process of symmetry breaking in the acellular slime mould Physarum polycephalum. In these experiments, slime moulds could grow on two identical opposed sources of calcium. We highlighted a positive correlation between growth dynamic, level of symmetry breaking and calcium concentration. We identified three populations of slime moulds within our clonal lineage with similar symmetry breaking behaviours but different motility characteristics. These behavioural differences between slime moulds emerged in the absence of any environmental differences. Such behavioural plasticity could generate cellular diversity, which can be critical for survival.

SUBMITTER: Vogel D

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6303507 | biostudies-literature | 2018 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Symmetry breaking and inter-clonal behavioural variability in a slime mould.

Vogel David D Dussutour Audrey A Deneubourg Jean-Louis JL

Biology letters 20181201 12

Cells are dynamic systems capable of switching from isotropic growth to polarized growth even in the absence of any pre-existing external asymmetry. Here, we study this process of symmetry breaking in the acellular slime mould Physarum polycephalum. In these experiments, slime moulds could grow on two identical opposed sources of calcium. We highlighted a positive correlation between growth dynamic, level of symmetry breaking and calcium concentration. We identified three populations of slime mo ...[more]

PMID: 30958252

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Project description:Abstract Trait expression in metazoans is strongly influenced by the balance of macronutrients (i.e. protein, carbohydrate and fat) in the diet. At the same time, an individual's genetic background seems to regulate the magnitude of phenotypic response to a particular diet. It needs to be better understood whether interactions between diet, genetic background and trait expression are found in unicellular eukaryotes. A protist—the slime mould, Physarum polycephalum can choose diets based on protein‐to‐carbohydrate (P:C) content to support optimal growth rate. Yet, the role of genetic background (variation in the mitochondrial and nuclear DNAs) in mediating growth rate response to dietary P:C ratios in the slime mould is unknown. Here, we studied the effects of interactions between mitochondrial and nuclear DNA haplotypes and diet (i.e. G × G × E interactions) on the growth rate of P. polycephalum. A genetic panel of six distinct strains of P. polycephalum that differ in their mitochondrial and nuclear DNA haplotypes was used to measure growth rate across five diets that varied in their P:C ratio and total calories. We first determined the strains' growth rate (total biomass and surface area) when grown on a set menu with access to a particular diet. We then assessed whether the growth rate of strains increased on a buffet menu with access to all diets. Our findings show that the growth rate of P. polycephalum is generally higher on diets containing more carbohydrates than protein and that total calories negatively affect the growth rate. Three‐way interactions between mitochondrial, nuclear haplotypes and dietary P:C ratios affected the strains' surface area of growth but not biomass. Intriguingly, strains did not increase their surface area and biomass when they had access to all diets on the buffet menu. Our findings have broad implications for our understanding of the effect of mitonuclear interactions on trait expression across diverse eukaryotic lineages. Three‐way interactions between mitochondrial, nuclear haplotypes and dietary P:C ratios affected the slime mould's surface area of growth but not biomass. Our findings have broad implications for our understanding of the effect of mitonuclear interactions on trait expression across diverse eukaryotic lineages.

Dataset Information

Symmetry breaking and inter-clonal behavioural variability in a slime mould.

Publications

Symmetry breaking and inter-clonal behavioural variability in a slime mould.

Similar Datasets

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