Dynamic risk management by cell populations (IMAGE)
Caption
In the absence of environmental signals, uncertainty about the environment is high (middle panel) and the population of E. coli cells were found to demonstrate strong diversity in their sensory response (indicated by broad distribution of response coefficient K_(1/2) in lower panel), enabling responses to many different signals (schematized by color of cell cartoons within top panel in the 'bet-hedging' regime). But once a given signal [L] (green curve in top panel) exceeded a threshold (?[L]?_0^*) predicted by the mathematical model, the sensory diversity collapsed (indicated by narrow distribution of K_(1/2) in lower panel) , enabling the entire population to 'focus' on that particular signal ('tracking' regime in top panel).
Credit
K. Kamino
Usage Restrictions
None
License
Licensed content