Universität zu Köln

Mader, Andreas, von Bronk, Benedikt, Ewald, Benedikt, Kesel, Sara, Schnetz, Karin ORCID: 0000-0003-4693-6202, Frey, Erwin ORCID: 0000-0001-8792-3358 and Opitz, Madeleine (2015). Amount of Colicin Release in Escherichia coli Is Regulated by Lysis Gene Expression of the Colicin E2 Operon. PLoS One, 10 (3). SAN FRANCISCO: PUBLIC LIBRARY SCIENCE. ISSN 1932-6203

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Abstract

The production of bacteriocins in response to worsening environmental conditions is one means of bacteria to outcompete other microorganisms. Colicins, one class of bacteriocins in Escherichia coli, are effective against closely related Enterobacteriaceae. Current research focuses on production, release and uptake of these toxins by bacteria. However, little is known about the quantitative aspects of these dynamic processes. Here, we quantitatively study expression dynamics of the Colicin E2 operon in E. coli on a single cell level using fluorescence time-lapse microscopy. DNA damage, triggering SOS response leads to the heterogeneous expression of this operon including the cea gene encoding the toxin, Colicin E2, and the cel gene coding for the induction of cell lysis and subsequent colicin release. Advancing previous whole population investigations, our time-lapse experiments reveal that at low exogenous stress levels all cells eventually respond after a given time (heterogeneous timing). This heterogeneous timing is lost at high stress levels, at which a synchronized stress response of all cells 60 min after induction via stress can be observed. We further demonstrate, that the amount of colicin released is dependent on cel (lysis) gene expression, independent of the applied exogenous stress level. A heterogeneous response in combination with heterogeneous timing can be biologically significant. It might enable a bacterial population to endure low stress levels, while at high stress levels an immediate and synchronized population wide response can give single surviving cells of the own species the chance to take over the bacterial community after the stress has ceased.

Item Type:	Journal Article
Creators:	Creators Email ORCID ORCID Put Code Mader, Andreas UNSPECIFIED UNSPECIFIED UNSPECIFIED von Bronk, Benedikt UNSPECIFIED UNSPECIFIED UNSPECIFIED Ewald, Benedikt UNSPECIFIED UNSPECIFIED UNSPECIFIED Kesel, Sara UNSPECIFIED UNSPECIFIED UNSPECIFIED Schnetz, Karin UNSPECIFIED orcid.org/0000-0003-4693-6202 UNSPECIFIED Frey, Erwin UNSPECIFIED orcid.org/0000-0001-8792-3358 UNSPECIFIED Opitz, Madeleine UNSPECIFIED UNSPECIFIED UNSPECIFIED
URN:	urn:nbn:de:hbz:38-409951
DOI:	10.1371/journal.pone.0119124
Journal or Publication Title:	PLoS One
Volume:	10
Number:	3
Date:	2015
Publisher:	PUBLIC LIBRARY SCIENCE
Place of Publication:	SAN FRANCISCO
ISSN:	1932-6203
Language:	English
Faculty:	Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences
Divisions:	Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences > Department of Biology > Institute for Genetics
Subjects:	no entry
Uncontrolled Keywords:	Keywords Language BINDING PROTEIN CSRA; K ACTIVITY GENE; CRYSTAL-STRUCTURE; MITOMYCIN-C; SOS; BACTERIOCINS; EVOLUTION; TRANSCRIPTION; BIODIVERSITY; REPRESSION Multiple languages Multidisciplinary Sciences Multiple languages
Refereed:	Yes
URI:	http://kups.ub.uni-koeln.de/id/eprint/40995