A modular gradient‐sensing network for chemotaxis in Escherichia coli revealed by responses to time‐varying stimuli

Abstract The Escherichia coli chemotaxis‐signaling pathway computes time derivatives of chemoeffector concentrations. This network features modules for signal reception/amplification and robust adaptation, with sensing of chemoeffector gradients determined by the way in which these modules are coupl...

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Main Authors: Thomas S Shimizu, Yuhai Tu, Howard C Berg
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Springer Nature 2010-06-01
Series:Molecular Systems Biology
Subjects:
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1038/msb.2010.37
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author Thomas S Shimizu
Yuhai Tu
Howard C Berg
author_facet Thomas S Shimizu
Yuhai Tu
Howard C Berg
author_sort Thomas S Shimizu
collection DOAJ
description Abstract The Escherichia coli chemotaxis‐signaling pathway computes time derivatives of chemoeffector concentrations. This network features modules for signal reception/amplification and robust adaptation, with sensing of chemoeffector gradients determined by the way in which these modules are coupled in vivo. We characterized these modules and their coupling by using fluorescence resonance energy transfer to measure intracellular responses to time‐varying stimuli. Receptor sensitivity was characterized by step stimuli, the gradient sensitivity by exponential ramp stimuli, and the frequency response by exponential sine‐wave stimuli. Analysis of these data revealed the structure of the feedback transfer function linking the amplification and adaptation modules. Feedback near steady state was found to be weak, consistent with strong fluctuations and slow recovery from small perturbations. Gradient sensitivity and frequency response both depended strongly on temperature. We found that time derivatives can be computed by the chemotaxis system for input frequencies below 0.006 Hz at 22°C and below 0.018 Hz at 32°C. Our results show how dynamic input–output measurements, time honored in physiology, can serve as powerful tools in deciphering cell‐signaling mechanisms.
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spelling doaj-art-23733906b78d41f79eace2feff94bc272025-08-24T12:00:14ZengSpringer NatureMolecular Systems Biology1744-42922010-06-016111410.1038/msb.2010.37A modular gradient‐sensing network for chemotaxis in Escherichia coli revealed by responses to time‐varying stimuliThomas S Shimizu0Yuhai Tu1Howard C Berg2Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Harvard UniversityT. J. Watson Research Center, IBMDepartment of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Harvard UniversityAbstract The Escherichia coli chemotaxis‐signaling pathway computes time derivatives of chemoeffector concentrations. This network features modules for signal reception/amplification and robust adaptation, with sensing of chemoeffector gradients determined by the way in which these modules are coupled in vivo. We characterized these modules and their coupling by using fluorescence resonance energy transfer to measure intracellular responses to time‐varying stimuli. Receptor sensitivity was characterized by step stimuli, the gradient sensitivity by exponential ramp stimuli, and the frequency response by exponential sine‐wave stimuli. Analysis of these data revealed the structure of the feedback transfer function linking the amplification and adaptation modules. Feedback near steady state was found to be weak, consistent with strong fluctuations and slow recovery from small perturbations. Gradient sensitivity and frequency response both depended strongly on temperature. We found that time derivatives can be computed by the chemotaxis system for input frequencies below 0.006 Hz at 22°C and below 0.018 Hz at 32°C. Our results show how dynamic input–output measurements, time honored in physiology, can serve as powerful tools in deciphering cell‐signaling mechanisms.https://doi.org/10.1038/msb.2010.37adaptationfeedbackfluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET)frequency responseMonod‐Wyman‐Changeux (MWC) model
spellingShingle Thomas S Shimizu
Yuhai Tu
Howard C Berg
A modular gradient‐sensing network for chemotaxis in Escherichia coli revealed by responses to time‐varying stimuli
Molecular Systems Biology
adaptation
feedback
fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET)
frequency response
Monod‐Wyman‐Changeux (MWC) model
title A modular gradient‐sensing network for chemotaxis in Escherichia coli revealed by responses to time‐varying stimuli
title_full A modular gradient‐sensing network for chemotaxis in Escherichia coli revealed by responses to time‐varying stimuli
title_fullStr A modular gradient‐sensing network for chemotaxis in Escherichia coli revealed by responses to time‐varying stimuli
title_full_unstemmed A modular gradient‐sensing network for chemotaxis in Escherichia coli revealed by responses to time‐varying stimuli
title_short A modular gradient‐sensing network for chemotaxis in Escherichia coli revealed by responses to time‐varying stimuli
title_sort modular gradient sensing network for chemotaxis in escherichia coli revealed by responses to time varying stimuli
topic adaptation
feedback
fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET)
frequency response
Monod‐Wyman‐Changeux (MWC) model
url https://doi.org/10.1038/msb.2010.37
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