Year: 2024
Type: preprint
Abstract: Microorganisms constantly transition between environments with dramatically different external osmolarities. However, theories of microbial osmoresponse integrating physical constraints and biological regulations are lacking. Here, we propose such a theory, utilizing the separation of timescales for passive responses and active regulations. We demonstrate that regulations of osmolyte production and cell-wall synthesis assist cells in coping with intracellular crowding effects and adapting to a broad range of external osmolarity. Furthermore, we predict a threshold value above which cells cannot grow, ubiquitous across bacteria and yeast. Intriguingly, the theory predicts a dramatic speedup of cell growth after an abrupt decrease in external osmolarity due to cell-wall synthesis regulation. Our theory rationalizes the unusually fast growth observed in fission yeast after an oscillatory osmotic perturbation, and the predicted growth rate peaks match quantitatively with experimental measurements. Our study reveals the physical basis of osmoresponse, yielding far-reaching implications for microbial physiology.
Source: eLife
DOI: 10.7554/elife.102858
Authors: Yiyang Ye, Qirun Wang, Jie Lin
Institutions: Peking University, Center for Life Sciences
Language: English
Subfield: Genetics
Domain: Life Sciences
Open Access status: gold
Estimated APC paid: $2,500
Awards: G2422402418, G7170281435
OpenAlex ID: W4405363906