Evolutionary rewiring of bacterial regulatory networks

Tiffany B. Taylor*, Geraldine Mulley, Liam J. McGuffin, Louise J. Johnson, Michael A. Brockhurst, Tanya Arseneault, Mark W. Silby, Robert W. Jackson

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalReview articlepeer-review

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Abstract

Bacteria have evolved complex regulatory networks that enable integration of multiple intracellular and extracellular signals to coordinate responses to environmental changes. However, our knowledge of how regulatory systems function and evolve is still relatively limited. There is often extensive homology between components of different networks, due to past cycles of gene duplication, divergence, and horizontal gene transfer, raising the possibility of cross-talk or redundancy. Consequently, evolutionary resilience is built into gene networks – homology between regulators can potentially allow rapid rescue of lost regulatory function across distant regions of the genome. In our recent study [Taylor, et al. Science (2015), 347(6225)] we find that mutations that facilitate cross-talk between pathways can contribute to gene network evolution, but that such mutations come with severe pleiotropic costs. Arising from this work are a number of questions surrounding how this phenomenon occurs.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)256-258
Number of pages3
JournalMicrobial Cell
Volume2
Issue number7
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 6 Jul 2015

Keywords

  • Bacterial motility
  • Enhancing binding proteins
  • Flagella regulation
  • Gene network evolution
  • Nitrogen regulation

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Immunology and Microbiology (miscellaneous)
  • Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology (miscellaneous)

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