Crosstalk between guanosine nucleotides regulates cellular heterogeneity in protein synthesis during nutrient limitation.

ABSTRACT: Phenotypic heterogeneity of microbial populations can facilitate survival in dynamic environments by generating sub-populations of cells that may have differential fitness in a future environment. Bacillus subtilis cultures experiencing nutrient limitation contain distinct sub-populations of cells exhibiting either comparatively high or low protein synthesis activity. This heterogeneity requires the production of phosphorylated guanosine nucleotides (pp)pGpp by three synthases: SasA, SasB, and RelA. Here we show that these enzymes differentially affect this bimodality: RelA and SasB are necessary to generate the sub-population of cells exhibiting low protein synthesis whereas SasA is necessary to generate cells exhibiting comparatively higher protein synthesis. Previously, it was reported

SUBMITTER: Diez S 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9173625 | biostudies-literature | 2022 May

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature