Metabolic self-organization of bioluminescent Escherichia coli.

摘要: A possible reason for the complexity of signals produced by bioluminescent biosensors might be self-organization cells. In order to verify this possibility, bioluminescence images cultures lux gene reporter Escherichia coli were recorded several hours after being placed into 8–10 mm diameter cylindrical containers. It was found that luminous cells distribute near three-phase contact line, forming irregular azimuthal waves. As we show, space–time plots quasi-one-dimensional measured along line can simulated reaction–diffusion–chemotaxis equations, in which reaction term is a logistic (autocatalytic) growth function. rate (~0.02 s−1) >100 times higher than E. coli. We provide an explanation result assuming exhibits considerable respiratory flexibility (the ability oxygen-induced switching from one metabolic pathway another). According simple two-state model presented here, number oxic (luminous) grows at expense anoxic (dark) cells, whereas total (oxic and anoxic) remains unchanged. conjectured corresponding pattern formation considered as energy-taxis population metabolically flexible bacteria under hypoxic conditions. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.