Impact of Rap-Phr system abundance on adaptation of Bacillus subtilis

Commun Biol. 2021 Apr 13;4(1):468. doi: 10.1038/s42003-021-01983-9.

Abstract

Microbes commonly display great genetic plasticity, which has allowed them to colonize all ecological niches on Earth. Bacillus subtilis is a soil-dwelling organism that can be isolated from a wide variety of environments. An interesting characteristic of this bacterium is its ability to form biofilms that display complex heterogeneity: individual, clonal cells develop diverse phenotypes in response to different environmental conditions within the biofilm. Here, we scrutinized the impact that the number and variety of the Rap-Phr family of regulators and cell-cell communication modules of B. subtilis has on genetic adaptation and evolution. We examine how the Rap family of phosphatase regulators impacts sporulation in diverse niches using a library of single and double rap-phr mutants in competition under 4 distinct growth conditions. Using specific DNA barcodes and whole-genome sequencing, population dynamics were followed, revealing the impact of individual Rap phosphatases and arising mutations on the adaptability of B. subtilis.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adaptation, Physiological / genetics*
  • Bacillus subtilis / enzymology
  • Bacillus subtilis / genetics
  • Bacillus subtilis / physiology*
  • Gene Expression Regulation, Bacterial
  • Genes, Bacterial*
  • Multigene Family*
  • Phosphoric Monoester Hydrolases / metabolism*
  • Quorum Sensing

Substances

  • Phosphoric Monoester Hydrolases