Haloarchaea swim slowly for optimal chemotactic efficiency in low nutrient environments

Katie L. Thornton, Jaimi K. Butler, Seth J. Davis, Bonnie K. Baxter and Laurence G. Wilson ()
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Katie L. Thornton: University of York
Jaimi K. Butler: Westminster College
Seth J. Davis: University of York
Bonnie K. Baxter: Westminster College
Laurence G. Wilson: University of York

Nature Communications, 2020, vol. 11, issue 1, 1-9

Abstract: Abstract Archaea have evolved to survive in some of the most extreme environments on earth. Life in extreme, nutrient-poor conditions gives the opportunity to probe fundamental energy limitations on movement and response to stimuli, two essential markers of living systems. Here we use three-dimensional holographic microscopy and computer simulations to reveal that halophilic archaea achieve chemotaxis with power requirements one hundred-fold lower than common eubacterial model systems. Their swimming direction is stabilised by their flagella (archaella), enhancing directional persistence in a manner similar to that displayed by eubacteria, albeit with a different motility apparatus. Our experiments and simulations reveal that the cells are capable of slow but deterministic chemotaxis up a chemical gradient, in a biased random walk at the thermodynamic limit.

Date: 2020
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:nat:natcom:v:11:y:2020:i:1:d:10.1038_s41467-020-18253-7

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DOI: 10.1038/s41467-020-18253-7

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