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Related Experiment Videos

Substrate Concentration and Plasmid Transfer Frequency between Bacteria in a Model Rhizosphere.

D A Pearce1, M J Bazin, J M Lynch

  • 1Division of Life Sciences, King's College London, Campden Hill Road, Kensington, London W8 7AH UK, GB.

Microbial Ecology
|September 8, 2000
PubMed
Summary

Substrate concentration impacts bacterial plasmid transfer. Higher glucose levels increase transconjugant numbers but decrease plasmid transfer frequency, suggesting nutrient scarcity stimulates transfer.

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Area of Science:

  • Microbial genetics
  • Environmental microbiology
  • Molecular biology

Background:

  • Plasmid transfer is crucial for bacterial adaptation and evolution.
  • Understanding factors influencing horizontal gene transfer (HGT) in environments like the rhizosphere is essential.
  • Substrate availability can significantly impact microbial interactions and genetic exchange.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the effect of substrate (glucose) concentration on plasmid transfer frequency.
  • To elucidate the relationship between nutrient availability and the efficiency of horizontal gene transfer in a controlled model system.
  • To determine if plasmid transfer is stimulated by nutrient scarcity or inhibited by nutrient abundance.

Main Methods:

  • Utilized a physical model simulating the rhizosphere with hollow fiber membranes.

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  • Varied substrate (glucose) concentrations to assess impact on plasmid transfer.
  • Quantified transconjugant numbers and calculated plasmid transfer frequency.
  • Analyzed dependency on donor to recipient ratio, strain distribution, and inoculum density.

    • Main Results:

    • Absolute transconjugant numbers increased with rising glucose concentration.
    • Plasmid transfer frequency decreased exponentially with increasing glucose concentration (from 4.4 × 10(-3) to 1.35 × 10(-5)).
    • Transfer frequency was dependent on donor/recipient ratio and strain distribution, but independent of inoculum density.

    Conclusions:

    • High substrate concentrations inhibit plasmid transfer frequency.
    • Plasmid transfer appears to be stimulated by scarce growth-limiting nutrients.
    • These findings suggest nutrient availability is a key regulator of horizontal gene transfer in microbial communities.