Broadcasting of amplitude- and frequency-modulated c-di-GMP signals facilitates cooperative surface commitment in bacterial lineages
Abstract
It is well known that c-di-GMP concentration rises in surface-sensing bacteria and functions as a “molecular switch” for biofilm formation. Here, we provide an important recasting of this picture: Intracellular c-di-GMP signals do not just increase in surface-sensing bacteria; such signals are cooperatively broadcast across multiple generations of cells in a lineage with oscillations that undergo both amplitude and frequency modulation, which are controlled by the coupling between pili appendages and c-di-GMP synthesis machinery. The right “tuning” of these signals in terms of frequency and amplitude correlates ultimately to surface commitment. Amplitude and frequency modulation of c-di-GMP signals allows encoding of more complex instructions. Thus, our work provides a more nuanced understanding of how c-di-GMP signaling drives surface commitment.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Pub Defense Publication
- Publication Date
- Jan 21, 2022
- Source ID
- 10.1073/pnas.2112226119
Entities
People
- Calvin K Lee
- George A O'Toole
- Gerard C L Wong
- Jonathan W. Chen
- Shanice S. Webster
- William Schmidt
Organizations
- Army Research Office
- Division of Graduate Education
- Geisel School of Medicine
- National Institutes of Health
- University of California