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Updated: Jul 30, 2026
13:19
The Use of Chemostats in Microbial Systems Biology
Published on: October 14, 2013
Miscibility gap in the microbial fitness landscape.
F N Braun1, S Paulsen, R P Sear
1Institute of Medical Biology, University of Tromso, N-9037 Tromso, Norway.
Physical Review Letters
|May 21, 2005
Summary
Microbial protein expression profiles exhibit a demixing instability. Many microbes exist near this instability, potentially linking it to evolutionary compartmentalization.
Area of Science:
- Molecular statistical mechanics
- Microbial systems biology
- Evolutionary biology
Background:
- Biological systems often require stable protein expression for function.
- Protein expression profiles can be analyzed in moment space.
- Microbial life exhibits diverse strategies for managing cellular processes.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the existence and implications of demixing instability in microbial protein expression.
- To compare theoretical findings with empirical proteomic and genomic data.
- To explore the evolutionary significance of proximity to this instability.
Main Methods:
- Application of molecular statistical considerations to protein expression data.
- Analysis of microbial protein expression profiles in moment space.
- Comparative analysis with existing proteomic and genomic datasets.
Main Results:
- A demixing instability was identified in the moment space of microbial protein expression.
- Many microbes were found to operate near the onset of this instability.
- Proximity to the instability may be linked to evolutionary adaptations.
Conclusions:
- The identified demixing instability is a significant feature of microbial protein expression.
- Microbial evolution may involve navigating or utilizing this instability.
- Intracellular compartmentalization could be an evolutionary response related to this phenomenon.
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