Stochastic pulsing of gene expression enables the generation of spatial patterns in Bacillus subtilis biofilms

Eugene Nadezhdin, Niall Murphy, Neil Dalchau, Andrew Phillips and James C. W. Locke ()
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Eugene Nadezhdin: University of Cambridge
Niall Murphy: University of Cambridge
Neil Dalchau: Microsoft Research
Andrew Phillips: Microsoft Research
James C. W. Locke: University of Cambridge

Nature Communications, 2020, vol. 11, issue 1, 1-12

Abstract: Abstract Stochastic pulsing of gene expression can generate phenotypic diversity in a genetically identical population of cells, but it is unclear whether it has a role in the development of multicellular systems. Here, we show how stochastic pulsing of gene expression enables spatial patterns to form in a model multicellular system, Bacillus subtilis bacterial biofilms. We use quantitative microscopy and time-lapse imaging to observe pulses in the activity of the general stress response sigma factor σB in individual cells during biofilm development. Both σB and sporulation activity increase in a gradient, peaking at the top of the biofilm, even though σB represses sporulation. As predicted by a simple mathematical model, increasing σB expression shifts the peak of sporulation to the middle of the biofilm. Our results demonstrate how stochastic pulsing of gene expression can play a key role in pattern formation during biofilm development.

Date: 2020
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DOI: 10.1038/s41467-020-14431-9

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