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Bacillus subtilis cells autonomously control their time in multicellular chains but not solitary states. This timing mechanism allows for coordinated multicellular development, distinct from external signals.

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Area of Science:

  • Microbiology
  • Cell Biology
  • Systems Biology

Background:

  • Genetically identical cells can exhibit diverse phenotypes, with origins often unclear.
  • Cellular variation can arise from stochasticity, external cues, or autonomous programs.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the decision-making process between solitary and chained states in Bacillus subtilis.
  • To understand the regulatory mechanisms and timing control governing cellular multicellularity.

Main Methods:

  • Long-term observation of thousands of Bacillus subtilis cells over hundreds of generations.
  • Analysis of a three-protein regulatory circuit controlling cell state transitions.
  • Dissection of genetic separability between initiation and maintenance of chaining.

Main Results:

  • The solitary, motile state in Bacillus subtilis is 'memoryless' with no autonomous time control.
  • The chained, sessile state exhibits tightly controlled timing, promoting cellular coordination.
  • The regulatory circuit for chaining is modular, with separable initiation and maintenance functions.

Conclusions:

  • Autonomous timing allows Bacillus subtilis to commit to a multicellular state.
  • This internal timing mechanism provides a 'trial' period for multicellular development.
  • External signals can extend this autonomously initiated multicellular phase, potentially leading to biofilm formation.