Adaptation delay causes a burst of mutations in bacteria responding to oxidative stress.

ABSTRACT: Understanding the interplay between phenotypic and genetic adaptation is a focus of evolutionary biology. In bacteria, the oxidative stress response prevents mutagenesis by reactive oxygen species (ROS). We hypothesise that the stress response dynamics can therefore affect the timing of the mutation supply that fuels genetic adaptation to oxidative stress. We uncover that sudden hydrogen peroxide stress causes a burst of mutations. By developing single-molecule and single-cell microscopy methods, we determine how these mutation dynamics arise from phenotypic adaptation mechanisms. H₂ O₂ signalling by the transcription factor OxyR rapidly induces ROS-scavenging enzymes. However, an adaptation delay leaves cells vulnerable to the mutagenic and toxic effects of hydroxyl

SUBMITTER: Lagage V 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9827559 | biostudies-literature | 2023 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature