Chemotaxis as a navigation strategy to boost range expansion.

ABSTRACT: Bacterial chemotaxis, the directed movement of cells along gradients of chemoattractants, is among the best-characterized subjects in molecular biology^1-10, but much less is known about its physiological roles¹¹. It is commonly seen as a starvation response when nutrients run out, or as an escape response from harmful situations^12-16. Here we identify an alternative role of chemotaxis by systematically examining the spatiotemporal dynamics of Escherichia coli in soft agar^12,17,18. Chemotaxis in nutrient-replete conditions promotes the expansion of bacterial populations into unoccupied territories well before nutrients run out in the current environment. Low levels of chemoattractants act as aroma-like cues in this process, establishing the direct

SUBMITTER: Cremer J 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6883170 | biostudies-literature | 2019 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature