biostudies-literatureAdams JNational Science Foundation (NSF)National Science Foundatione0066323https://www.ebi.ac.uk/biostudies/studies/S-EPMC10654073biostudies-literatureUnknown8(5)<h4>Importance</h4>Bacteria adapt to changing environments by altering the transcription of their genes. Specific proteins can regulate these changes. This study explored how a single protein called RpoS controls how many genes change expression during adaptation to three stresses. We found that: (i) RpoS is responsible for activating different genes in different stresses; (ii) that during a stress, the timing of gene activation depends on the what stress it is; and (iii) that how much RpoS a gene needs in order to be activated can predict when that gene will be activated during the stress of stationary phase.mSystemsThe timing of transcription of RpoS-dependent genes varies across multiple stresses in <i>Escherichia coli</i> K-12.PMC106540731716794Stoebel DMHardin JHoang JPetroni EAshby EAdams JfalseThe timing of transcription of RpoS-dependent genes varies across multiple stresses in <i>Escherichia coli</i> K-12.<h4>Importance</h4>Bacteria adapt to changing environments by altering the transcription of their genes. Specific proteins can regulate these changes. This study explored how a single protein called RpoS controls how many genes change expression during adaptation to three stresses. We found that: (i) RpoS is responsible for activating different genes in different stresses; (ii) that during a stress, the timing of gene activation depends on the what stress it is; and (iii) that how much RpoS a gene needs in order to be activated can predict when that gene will be activated during the stress of stationary phase.2023-01-01T00:00:00Z2023 Oct2025-04-22T18:07:44.57Z2025-04-06T02:19:50.068ZS-EPMC106540733762332110.1128/msystems.00663-23