Open AccessBroadcasting of amplitude- and frequency-modulated c-di-GMP signals facilitates cooperative surface commitment in bacterial lineages
Author(s) -
Calvin K. Lee,
William C. Schmidt,
Shanice S. Webster,
Jonathan W. Chen,
George A. O’Toole,
Gerard C. L. Wong
Publication year - 2022
Publication title -
proceedings of the national academy of sciences of the united states of america
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 1091-6490
pISSN - 0027-8424
DOI - 10.1073/pnas.2112226119
Subject(s) - biology , lineage (genetic) , motility , modulation (music) , envelope (radar) , microbiology and biotechnology , signal transduction , amplitude , biophysics , physics , genetics , gene , telecommunications , optics , computer science , radar , acoustics
Significance It is well known that c-di-GMP concentration rises in surface-sensing bacteria and functions as a “molecular switch” for biofilm formation. Here, we provide an important recasting of this picture: Intracellular c-di-GMP signals do not just increase in surface-sensing bacteria; such signals are cooperatively broadcast across multiple generations of cells in a lineage with oscillations that undergo both amplitude and frequency modulation, which are controlled by the coupling between pili appendages and c-di-GMP synthesis machinery. The right “tuning” of these signals in terms of frequency and amplitude correlates ultimately to surface commitment. Amplitude and frequency modulation of c-di-GMP signals allows encoding of more complex instructions. Thus, our work provides a more nuanced understanding of how c-di-GMP signaling drives surface commitment.