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Fluorescence Live-cell Imaging of the Complete Vegetative Cell Cycle of the Slow-growing Social Bacterium Myxococcus xanthus
Published on: June 20, 2018
Multicellular development in Myxococcus xanthus is stimulated by predator-prey interactions.
James E Berleman1, John R Kirby
1Department of Microbiology, The University of Iowa, 51 Newton Road, Iowa City, IA 52242, USA.
Journal of Bacteriology
|May 22, 2007
Summary
Myxococcus xanthus fruiting body development is triggered by prey availability, not starvation. Prey loss initiates aggregation, while prey presence inhibits it, revealing new insights into bacterial social behavior.
Area of Science:
- Microbiology
- Bacterial Social Behavior
- Developmental Biology
Background:
- Myxococcus xanthus exhibits complex social behaviors, including forming fruiting bodies and differentiating into spores.
- Fruiting body formation is typically induced by nutrient limitation and occurs in monocultures.
- The role of prey availability in M. xanthus multicellular development was previously unclear.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the influence of prey availability on Myxococcus xanthus fruiting body development.
- To determine if starvation is a prerequisite for fruiting body formation in coculture.
- To assess the requirement of stringent response and A-signal production in prey-mediated development.
Main Methods:
- Coculture experiments with M. xanthus and suitable prey bacteria.
- Manipulation of prey availability (step-up and step-down conditions).
- Analysis of developmental signaling mutants (relA and asgD).
Main Results:
- Fruiting body formation is triggered by a decrease in prey availability, not starvation.
- Increased prey availability inhibits fruiting body formation.
- relA and asgD mutants can initiate fruiting body aggregation in the presence of prey but fail in spore differentiation.
Conclusions:
- Myxococcus xanthus multicellular development is not solely driven by starvation but is significantly influenced by interactions with prey.
- Prey availability acts as a key regulator, with prey loss inducing development.
- Stringent response and A-signal are not essential for initiating fruiting behavior in this context, but are for spore differentiation.
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