J. Bacteriol., 04 1996, 1980-1989, Vol 178, No. 7
Copyright © 1996, American Society for Microbiology

Patterns of reporter gene expression in the phase diagram of Bacillus subtilis colony forms

NH Mendelson and B Salhi
Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona 85721-0106, USA.

Factors governing the morphogenesis of Bacillus subtilis colonies as well as the spatial-temporal pattern of expression of a reporter gene during colony development were examined by systematically varying the initial nutrient levels and agar concentrations (wetness), the relative humidity throughout incubation, and the genotype of the inoculum. A relationship between colony form and reporter gene expression pattern was found, indicating that cells respond to local signals during colony development as well as global conditions. The most complex colony forms were produced by motile strains grown under specific conditions such that cells could swim within the colony but not swarm outward uniformly from the colony periphery. The wetness of the growth environment was found to be a critical factor. Complex colonies consisted of structures produced by growth of finger-like projections that expanded outward a finite distance before giving rise to a successive round of fingers that behaved in a similar fashion. Finger tip expansion occurred when groups of cells penetrated the peripheral boundary. Although surfactin production was found to influence similar colony forms in other B. subtilis strains, the strains used here to study reporter gene expression do not produce it. The temporal expression of a reporter gene during morphogenesis of complex colonies by motile strains such as M18 was investigated. Expression arose first in cells located at the tips of fingers that were no longer expanding. The final expression pattern obtained reflects the developmental history of the colony.

This article has been cited by other articles:

• Julkowska, D., Obuchowski, M., Holland, I. B., Seror, Simone. J. (2005). Comparative Analysis of the Development of Swarming Communities of Bacillus subtilis 168 and a Natural Wild Type: Critical Effects of Surfactin and the Composition of the Medium. J. Bacteriol. 187: 65-76 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
• Bindel Connelly, M., Young, G. M., Sloma, A. (2004). Extracellular Proteolytic Activity Plays a Central Role in Swarming Motility in Bacillus subtilis. J. Bacteriol. 186: 4159-4167 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
• Julkowska, D., Obuchowski, M., Holland, I. B., Seror, S. J. (2004). Branched swarming patterns on a synthetic medium formed by wild-type Bacillus subtilis strain 3610: detection of different cellular morphologies and constellations of cells as the complex architecture develops. Microbiology 150: 1839-1849 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
• Kinsinger, R. F., Shirk, M. C., Fall, R. (2003). Rapid Surface Motility in Bacillus subtilis Is Dependent on Extracellular Surfactin and Potassium Ion. J. Bacteriol. 185: 5627-5631 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
• Deziel, E., Lepine, F., Milot, S., Villemur, R. (2003). rhlA is required for the production of a novel biosurfactant promoting swarming motility in Pseudomonas aeruginosa: 3-(3-hydroxyalkanoyloxy)alkanoic acids (HAAs), the precursors of rhamnolipids. Microbiology 149: 2005-2013 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
• Yaakov, G., Bell, M., Hohmann, S., Engelberg, D. (2003). Combination of Two Activating Mutations in One HOG1 Gene Forms Hyperactive Enzymes That Induce Growth Arrest. Mol. Cell. Biol. 23: 4826-4840 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
• Scherz, R., Shinder, V., Engelberg, D. (2001). Anatomical Analysis of Saccharomyces cerevisiae Stalk-Like Structures Reveals Spatial Organization and Cell Specialization. J. Bacteriol. 183: 5402-5413 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
• Martínez, A., Torello, S., Kolter, R. (1999). Sliding Motility in Mycobacteria. J. Bacteriol. 181: 7331-7338 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
• de Saro, F. J. L., Yoshikawa, N., Helmann, J. D. (1999). Expression, Abundance, and RNA Polymerase Binding Properties of the delta  Factor of Bacillus subtilis. J. Biol. Chem. 274: 15953-15958 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
• Eberl, L., Molin, S., Givskov, M. (1999). Surface Motility of Serratia liquefaciens MG1. J. Bacteriol. 181: 1703-1712 [Full Text]  
• Mendelson, N. H., Bourque, A., Wilkening, K., Anderson, K. R., Watkins, J. C. (1999). Organized Cell Swimming Motions in Bacillus subtilis Colonies: Patterns of Short-Lived Whirls and Jets. J. Bacteriol. 181: 600-609 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
• Lindum, P. W., Anthoni, U., Christophersen, C., Eberl, L., Molin, S., Givskov, M. (1998). N-Acyl-L-Homoserine Lactone Autoinducers Control Production of an Extracellular Lipopeptide Biosurfactant Required for Swarming Motility of Serratia liquefaciens MG1. J. Bacteriol. 180: 6384-6388 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
• Mendelson, N. H., Lega, J. (1998). A Complex Pattern of Traveling Stripes Is Produced by Swimming Cells of Bacillus subtilis. J. Bacteriol. 180: 3285-3294 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
• Stecchini, M. L., Del Torre, M., Sarais, I., Saro, O., Messina, M., Maltini, E. (1998). Influence of Structural Properties and Kinetic Constraints on Bacillus cereus Growth. Appl. Environ. Microbiol. 64: 1075-1078 [Abstract] [Full Text]