Bet-Hedging Bacteria

Caltech scientists studied the sigma B protein in bacterial cells. When triggered by extreme temperature, starvation or other stressors, sigma B can activate more than 150 genes. The researchers inserted a fluorescent sensor into bacterial cells so that the cells would glow green when sigma B sprang into action. Then they doused the bacteria with a chemical stressor that essentially saps the cells' energy. As expected, sigma B flipped on. But then, just as quickly, it flipped off, even though the chemical remained in the environment. This on-off behavior, which appeared as a blinking green light, reveals that bacteria may "hedge their bets" when exposed to energy stress.

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Education

Tags:

• bacteria
• stress
• Caltech