Phenotypic heterogeneity as a strategy for speeding up adaptive evolution at minimal cost

表型异质性作为以最小成本加速适应性进化的策略

• 批准号: 217329764
• 负责人: Professorin Dr. Berenike Maier
• 金额: --
• 依托单位: Institut für biologische Physik
• 依托单位国家: 德国
• 项目类别: Priority Programmes
• 财政年份: 2012
• 资助国家: 德国
• 起止时间: 2011-12-31 至 2016-12-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://gepris.dfg.de/gepris/projekt/217329764?language=en
• 关键词: Phenotypic; heterogeneity; strategy; speeding; up

Bacillus subtilis shows phenotypic variability in the stationary growth phase. In particular, a well-defined fraction of isogenic cells differentiates into the state of competence for transformation. Here we address the question whether this type of behaviour is optimal to speed up adaptation while minimizing the cost of competence development. We will generate mutants in B. subtilis which differentiate at different rates, and use a strain in which the entire population deterministically enters the state of competence. We plan to perform evolution experiments to quantify the rate of fitness increase for these different strategies of competence control. In particular we will address the following specific questions: What is the optimum rate and strategy of competence differentiation for speeding up adaptation? How do these rates and strategies depend on mutation rates? How does genetic drift affect the optimum rate of differentiation? Since the molecular details of differentiation and transformation are well characterized, the adaptation rates obtained from this project can serve as a basis for mathematical modelling of recombination control strategies. The results will deepen our understanding of the biological significance of phenotypic variability.

枯草芽孢杆菌在稳定生长期表现出表型变异性。特别是，等基因细胞的明确定义的部分分化成转化的能力状态。在这里，我们解决的问题，这种类型的行为是否是最佳的，以加快适应，同时最大限度地降低成本的能力发展。我们将在B中产生突变体。枯草芽孢杆菌以不同的速率分化，并使用其中整个群体确定性地进入感受态的菌株。我们计划进行进化实验来量化这些不同的能力控制策略的适应度增加率。特别是，我们将解决以下具体问题：什么是最佳的速度和战略的能力分化，以加快适应？这些速率和策略是如何依赖于突变速率的？遗传漂变如何影响最佳分化率？由于分化和转化的分子细节得到了很好的表征，因此从该项目获得的适应率可以作为重组控制策略的数学建模的基础。这些结果将加深我们对表型变异的生物学意义的理解。