The Selective Advantage of the lac Operon for Escherichia coli Is Conditional on Diet and Microbiota Composition.

ABSTRACT: The lac operon is one of the best known gene regulatory circuits and constitutes a landmark example of how bacteria tune their metabolism to nutritional conditions. It is nearly ubiquitous in Escherichia coli strains justifying the use of its phenotype, the ability to consume lactose, for species identification. Lactose is the primary sugar found in milk, which is abundant in mammals during the first weeks of life. However, lactose is virtually non-existent after the weaning period, with humans being an exception as many consume dairy products throughout their lives. The absence of lactose during adulthood in most mammals and the rarity of lactose in the environment, means that the selective pressure for maintaining the lac operon could be weak for long periods of time

SUBMITTER: Pinto C 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8333865 | biostudies-literature | 2021

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature