Escherichia coli can survive stress by noisy growth modulation

• Published in: Nature communications Vol. 9; no. 1; pp. 5333 - 11
• Main Authors: Patange, Om, Schwall, Christian, Jones, Matt, Villava, Casandra, Griffith, Douglas A., Phillips, Andrew, Locke, James C. W.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: London Nature Publishing Group UK 17-12-2018; Nature Publishing Group; Nature Portfolio
• Subjects: 14/35; 38/62; 631/326/1320; 631/553/2393; 631/553/2706; 631/553/2707; 631/553/2709; Bacterial Proteins - biosynthesis; Bacterial Proteins - genetics; E coli; Escherichia coli - genetics; Escherichia coli - growth & development; Escherichia coli Proteins - biosynthesis; Escherichia coli Proteins - genetics; Exploration; Feedback; Feedback loops; Gene expression; Gene Expression Regulation, Bacterial - genetics; Genetic variability; Growth rate; Humanities and Social Sciences; Microfluidics; Microscopy; multidisciplinary; Phenotypes; Phenotypic variations; Positive feedback; Science; Science (multidisciplinary); Sigma Factor - biosynthesis; Sigma Factor - genetics; Stochastic models; Stochasticity; Stress; Survival; Time-Lapse Imaging
• ISSN: 2041-1723; 2041-1723
• DOI: 10.1038/s41467-018-07702-z

Gene expression can be noisy, as can the growth of single cells. Such cell-to-cell variation has been implicated in survival strategies for bacterial populations. However, it remains unclear how single cells couple gene expression with growth to implement these strategies. Here, we show how noisy expression of a key stress-response regulator, RpoS, allows
E
.
coli
to modulate its growth dynamics to survive future adverse environments. We reveal a dynamic positive feedback loop between RpoS and growth rate that produces multi-generation RpoS pulses. We do so experimentally using single-cell, time-lapse microscopy and microfluidics and theoretically with a stochastic model. Next, we demonstrate that
E
.
coli
prepares for sudden stress by entering prolonged periods of slow growth mediated by RpoS. This dynamic phenotype is captured by the RpoS-growth feedback model. Our synthesis of noisy gene expression, growth, and survival paves the way for further exploration of functional phenotypic variability.
Noisy gene expression leading to phenotypic variability can help organisms to survive in changing environments. Here, Patange et al. show that noisy expression of a stress response regulator, RpoS, allows
E
.
coli
cells to modulate their growth rates to survive future adverse environments.