Bacteria can rapidly react to environmental changes by adapting gene expression of certain genes. We investigate the time-dependent response of sugar utilization systems in Escherichia coli on the single-cell level. We study both individual systems and the situation of two competing sugar utilization systems, with the goal to characterize properties that may have been optimized by evolution. Using microfluidic set-ups we expose bacterial cultures to systematically variable environments and use time-lapse microscopy and single cell tracking to acquire single-cell expression kinetics. In mathematical models using cost-benefit analysis and game theoretical concepts, we compare different regulatory schemes as strategies to cope with variable environments.
References:
- List of publications (J. Rädler)
- List of publications (U. Gerland)
Contact details:
Prof. Dr. Joachim Rädler
Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität
Lehrstuhl für Experimentalphysik
Room 105
Geschwister-Scholl-Platz 1
D-80539 Munich
Tel.: +49-(0)89-2180-2437
Fax: +49-(0)89-2180-3182
joachim.raedler(at)physik.lmu.de
Homepage Link
Prof. Dr. Ulrich Gerland
Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität
Statistical and Biological Physiks
Room: 340
Theresienstr. 37
D-80333 Munich
Tel.: +49-(0)89-2180-4514
Fax.:+49-(0)89-2180-4154
gerland(at)lmu.de
Homepage Link
Co-workers:
Dr. Judith Megerle
Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität
Lehrstuhl Prof. Rädler
Fakultät für Pyhsik
Geschwister-Scholl-Platz 1
D-80539 München
Room: NZ 031
Tel.: +49 (0)89-2180-2704
judith.megerle(at)physik.lmu.de
Dr. Georg Fritz
Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität
Biozentrum der LMU
Mikrobiologie, AG Mascher
Großhaderner Str. 2-4
D-82152 Planegg-Martinsried
Tel.: +49 (0)89-2180-74659
Fax: +49 (0)89-2180-74626
georg.fritz(at)lmu.de
Sonja Westermayer
Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität
Lehrstuhl Prof. Rädler
Fakultät für Pyhsik
Geschwister-Scholl-Platz 1
D-80539 München
Room: NZ 031
Tel.: +49 (0)89-2180-2704
sonja.westermayer(at)physik.lmu.de
Collaborations:
References:
Rädler
Fritz, G., Megerle, J. A., Westermayer, S. A., Brick, D., Heermann, R., Jung, K., Rädler, J. O. and Gerland, U. (2014) Single cell kinetics of phenotypic switching in the arabinose utilization system of E. coli. PLoS ONE, 9, e89532.
Leisner, M., Kuhr, J.-T., Rädler, J. O., Frey, E. and Maier, B. (2009) Kinetics of genetic switching into the state of bacterial competence. Biophys. J., 96, 1178-1188.
Megerle, J. A., Fritz, G., Gerland, U., Jung, K. and Rädler, J. O. (2008) Timing and dynamics of single cell gene expression in the arabinose utilization system. Biophys. J., 95, 2103-2115.
Leisner, M., Stingl, K., Rädler, J. O. and Maier, B. (2007) Basal expression rate of comK sets a 'switching-window' into the K-state of Bacillus subtilis. Mol. Microbiol., 63, 1806-1816.
Gerland
Fritz, G., Dintner, S., Treichel, N. S., Radeck, J., Gerland, U., Mascher, T. and Gebhard, S. (2015) A New Way of Sensing: Need-Based Activation of Antibiotic Resistance by a Flux-Sensing Mechanism. MBio, 6, e00975.
Plener, L., Lorenz, N., Reiger, M., Ramalho, T., Gerland, U. and Jung, K. (2015) The phosphorylation flow of the Vibrio harveyi quorum-sensing cascade determines levels of phenotypic heterogeneity in the population. J. Bacteriol., 197, 1747-1756.
Fritz, G., Megerle, J. A., Westermayer, S. A., Brick, D., Heermann, R., Jung, K., Rädler, J. O. and Gerland, U. (2014) Single cell kinetics of phenotypic switching in the arabinose utilization system of E. coli. PLoS ONE, 9, e89532.
Megerle, J. A., Fritz, G., Gerland, U., Jung, K. and Rädler, J. O. (2008) Timing and dynamics of single cell gene expression in the arabinose utilization system. Biophys. J., 95, 2103-2115.