Suboptimal resource allocation in changing environments constrains response and growth in bacteria

ABSTRACT: To respond to fluctuating conditions, microbes typically need to synthesize novel proteins. As this synthesis relies on sufficient biosynthetic precursors microbes must devise effective response strategies to manage depleting precursors. To better understand these strategies, we investigate the active response of Escherichia coli to changes in nutrient conditions, connecting transient gene-expression to growth phenotypes. By synthetically modifying gene expression during changing conditions, we show how the competition by genes for the limited protein synthesis capacity constrains cellular response. Despite this constraint cells substantially express genes that are not required, trapping them in states where precursor levels are low and the genes needed to replenish the precursors are out

SUBMITTER: Rohan Balakrishnan 

PROVIDER: S-SCDT-MSB-2021-10597 | biostudies-other |

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-other