Abstract
The lag phase of bacterial growth is important from a medical and food safety perspective, but difficult to study due to the low density and metabolic rate of cells. A new study by Alon and colleagues reveals that the gene expression program during early lag phase prioritizes carbon source utilization enzymes over genes responsible for biomass accumulation. This cellular strategy ultimately maximizes growth, making the best long-term use of the new nutrient-rich environment.See research article: http://www.biomedcentral.com/1752-0509/7/136
Highlights
The lag phase of bacterial growth is important from a medical and food safety perspective, but difficult to study due to the low density and metabolic rate of cells
When cells in stationary phase are introduced into a rich environment, it is in their best interest to gain biomass as quickly as possible in an effort to secure resources before their competitors
Is the role of the lag phase, an initial period when no growth is observed? Known about for over a century and still poorly understood, the lag phase has proven difficult to study due to the low density and low metabolic activity of bacteria during this phase. While it is usually interpreted as an adaptation period when the cell has to transition from low to high metabolism, little is known about the genetic program of the lag phase
Summary
The lag phase of bacterial growth is important from a medical and food safety perspective, but difficult to study due to the low density and metabolic rate of cells. A new study by Alon and colleagues [1] finds that gene expression during the lag phase was shaped by evolution to set the stage for maximal gain of biomass upon exit from lag phase by focusing on the production of bottleneck enzymes for carbon utilization.
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