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Kin discrimination and outer membrane exchange in Myxococcus xanthus: A comparative analysis among natural isolates
Sébastien Wielgoss1, Francesca Fiegna1, Olaya Rendueles1,2
1Institute of Integrative Biology, ETH Zürich, Zürich, Switzerland.
Molecular Ecology
|June 21, 2018
Summary
Outer membrane exchange (OME) in Myxococcus xanthus involves the TraA protein. This study found TraA similarity does not generally cause kin discrimination, challenging previous hypotheses on cooperation patterns.
Area of Science:
- Microbiology
- Bacterial Social Behavior
- Genetics
Background:
- Myxococcus xanthus exhibits complex social behaviors, including outer membrane exchange (OME).
- OME involves the outer membrane protein TraA, with functional incompatibility preventing exchange.
- Previous hypotheses suggested TraA incompatibilities dictate intercellular cooperation patterns.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the relationship between TraA diversity and kin discrimination in natural Myxococcus xanthus populations.
- To determine if TraA relatedness causally influences colony-merger incompatibilities (CMIs) and interstrain antagonisms.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of TraA diversity in natural isolates from a soil patch.
- Assessment of TraA functional diversity within the population.
- Examination of balancing selection and traA allele transfer.
- Testing for CMIs in strains with identical TraA.
- Predicting OME capability based on TraA dissimilarity for antagonistic strains.
Main Results:
- A significant portion of global TraA functional diversity is present in the studied population.
- Evidence of balancing selection on the PA14-portion of TraA and extensive traA allele transfer.
- Colony-merger incompatibilities (CMIs) are frequent even between strains with identical TraA.
- Most strongly antagonistic strain pairs are predicted to be incapable of OME due to TraA dissimilarity.
Conclusions:
- TraA sequence relatedness is not the primary driver of most observed kin discrimination patterns in this natural M. xanthus population.
- Existing hypotheses linking TraA incompatibilities to cooperation patterns require re-evaluation.
- Further research is needed to understand the mechanisms behind CMIs and interstrain antagonisms in M. xanthus.
Keywords:
behaviourcolony-merger incompatibilitymyxobacteriaouter membrane exchangephylogenysociobiogeographyMore Related Videos
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