Title | Quorum-sensing control of matrix protein production drives fractal wrinkling and interfacial localization of Vibrio cholerae pellicles. |
Publication Type | Journal Article |
Year of Publication | 2022 |
Authors | Qin, B, Bassler, BL |
Journal | Nat Commun |
Volume | 13 |
Issue | 1 |
Pagination | 6063 |
Date Published | 2022 Oct 13 |
ISSN | 2041-1723 |
Keywords | Bacterial Proteins, Biocompatible Materials, Fractals, Gene Expression Regulation, Bacterial, Quorum Sensing, Vibrio cholerae |
Abstract | <p>Bacterial cells at fluid interfaces can self-assemble into collective communities with stunning macroscopic morphologies. Within these soft, living materials, called pellicles, constituent cells gain group-level survival advantages including increased antibiotic resistance. However, the regulatory and structural components that drive pellicle self-patterning are not well defined. Here, using Vibrio cholerae as our model system, we report that two sets of matrix proteins and a key quorum-sensing regulator jointly orchestrate the sequential mechanical instabilities underlying pellicle morphogenesis, culminating in fractal patterning. A pair of matrix proteins, RbmC and Bap1, maintain pellicle localization at the interface and prevent self-peeling. A single matrix protein, RbmA, drives a morphogenesis program marked by a cascade of ever finer wrinkles with fractal scaling in wavelength. Artificial expression of rbmA restores fractal wrinkling to a ΔrbmA mutant and enables precise tuning of fractal dimensions. The quorum-sensing regulatory small RNAs Qrr1-4 first activate matrix synthesis to launch pellicle primary wrinkling and ridge instabilities. Subsequently, via a distinct mechanism, Qrr1-4 suppress fractal wrinkling to promote fine modulation of pellicle morphology. Our results connect cell-cell signaling and architectural components to morphogenic patterning and suggest that manipulation of quorum-sensing regulators or synthetic control of rbmA expression could underpin strategies to engineer soft biomaterial morphologies on demand.</p> |
DOI | 10.1038/s41467-022-33816-6 |
Alternate Journal | Nat Commun |
PubMed ID | 36229546 |
PubMed Central ID | PMC9561665 |
Grant List | R37 GM065859 / GM / NIGMS NIH HHS / United States |