A Highly Polymorphic Receptor Governs Many Distinct Self-Recognition Types within the Myxococcales Order.

ABSTRACT: Self-recognition underlies sociality in many group-living organisms. In bacteria, cells use various strategies to recognize kin to form social groups and, in some cases, to transition into multicellular life. One strategy relies on a single genetic locus that encodes a variable phenotypic tag ("greenbeard") for recognizing other tag bearers. Previously, we discovered a polymorphic cell surface receptor called TraA that directs self-identification through homotypic interactions in the social bacterium Myxococcus xanthus Recognition by TraA leads to cellular resource sharing in a process called outer membrane exchange (OME). A second gene in the traA operon, traB, is also required for OME but is not involved in recognition. Our prior studies of TraA identified only six r

SUBMITTER: Cao P 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6372800 | biostudies-literature | 2019 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature