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Related Experiment Videos

Response regulator output in bacterial chemotaxis

U Alon1, L Camarena, M G Surette

  • 1Department of Molecular Biology, Princeton University, NJ 08544, USA.

The EMBO Journal
|August 4, 1998
PubMed
Summary

Bacterial chemotaxis relies on CheY protein phosphorylation. This study quantifies the relationship between phosphorylated CheY (P-CheY) levels and bacterial swimming behavior, revealing nonlinear signal processing in E. coli.

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Area of Science:

  • Microbiology
  • Biochemistry
  • Systems Biology

Background:

  • Bacterial chemotaxis is crucial for survival and involves complex signal transduction pathways.
  • The phosphorylated response-regulator protein CheY (P-CheY) is a key mediator of chemotaxis in Escherichia coli.
  • Quantitative models of chemotaxis exist, but require precise data on P-CheY levels and swimming behavior.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To establish the quantitative relationship between P-CheY levels and bacterial swimming behavior in E. coli.
  • To test existing models of chemotaxis sensing and explore the underlying mechanisms of signal processing.

Main Methods:

  • Developed a computerized image analysis system for extensive statistics on bacterial swimming.
  • Systematically varied P-CheY levels in E. coli by controlled gene expression.

Related Experiment Videos

  • Analyzed tumbling frequency and flagellar motor switching in response to P-CheY concentration.

    • Main Results:

    • Tumbling frequency showed a weakly sigmoidal relationship with P-CheY concentration (Hill coefficient ~2.5).
    • High chemotaxis sensitivity arises from nonlinear signal transduction, not motor cooperativity.
    • Proposed an allosteric motor switching model that fits observed P-CheY-induced switching.

    Conclusions:

    • Bacterial chemotaxis exhibits nonlinear signal processing within the signal transduction network.
    • Interactions between flagella suggest an additional layer of information processing.
    • Intracellular P-CheY levels can be estimated from swimming behavior, with ~30% phosphorylation in adapted wild-type cells.