Pattern Formation by Motile Bacteria

在一定条件下， 大肠杆菌聚集成斑点或条纹状 以对称阵列分布。每个聚合体包含一个 大量的细胞迁移到一个离散的位点 以响应细胞自身产生的信号。 当细胞在限定培养基上生长时产生该信号， 暴露于三羧酸循环的中间体或暴露于 过氧化氢它是一种低分子量的化学品 由天冬氨酸受体感知。贝格博士建议：1） 识别这种化学品，2）表征其模式， 生产，和3）开发一个数学公式， 将有助于解释为什么模式的形成， 几何学这是一个跨领域的奋进， 信号转导、应激反应和信号分泌 分子到生物自组织的问题。它这样做 一个模型系统很容易适应遗传和生物化学 操纵

Under certain conditions, cells of chemotactic strains of the bacterium Escherichia coli aggregate in spots or stripes distributed in symmetrical arrays. Each aggregate contains a large number of cells that have migrated toward a discrete locus in response to a signal generated by the cells themselves. This signal is produced when cells are grown on defined media and exposed to intermediates of the tricarboxylic acid cycle or to hydrogen peroxide. It is a chemical of low molecular weight sensed by the aspartate receptor. Dr. Berg proposes 1) to identify this chemical, 2) to characterize its mode of production, and 3) to develop a mathematical formulation that will help explain why patterns are formed with such varied geometries. This is a cross field endeavor that links sensory transduction, responses to stress, and secretion of signal molecules to problems of biological self organization. It does so with a model system readily amenable to genetic and biochemical manipulation.