Antibiotic production in Streptomyces is organized by a division of labor through terminal genomic differentiation.

ABSTRACT: One of the hallmark behaviors of social groups is division of labor, where different group members become specialized to carry out complementary tasks. By dividing labor, cooperative groups increase efficiency, thereby raising group fitness even if these behaviors reduce individual fitness. We find that antibiotic production in colonies of Streptomyces coelicolor is coordinated by a division of labor. We show that S. coelicolor colonies are genetically heterogeneous because of amplifications and deletions to the chromosome. Cells with chromosomal changes produce diversified secondary metabolites and secrete more antibiotics; however, these changes reduced individual fitness, providing evidence for a trade-off between antibiotic production and fitness. Last, we show that colon

SUBMITTER: Zhang Z 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6962034 | biostudies-literature | 2020 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature