Cited by 590Gene Regulatory Network AnalysisEvolution and Genetic DynamicsBacterial Genetics and Biotechnology

Adaptive prediction of environmental changes by microorganisms

Mitchell, Amir, Romano, Gal H., Groisman, Bella, Yona, Avihu, Dekel, Erez, Kupiec, Martin, Dahan, Orna, Pilpel, Yitzhak·2009·Nature

Abstract

Natural habitats of some microorganisms may fluctuate erratically, whereas others, which are more predictable, offer the opportunity to prepare in advance for the next environmental change. In analogy to classical Pavlovian conditioning, microorganisms may have evolved to anticipate environmental stimuli by adapting to their temporal order of appearance. Here we present evidence for environmental change anticipation in two model microorganisms, Escherichia coli and Saccharomyces cerevisiae. We show that anticipation is an adaptive trait, because pre-exposure to the stimulus that typically appears early in the ecology improves the organism's fitness when encountered with a second stimulus. Additionally, we observe loss of the conditioned response in E. coli strains that were repeatedly exposed in a laboratory evolution experiment only to the first stimulus. Focusing on the molecular level reveals that the natural temporal order of stimuli is embedded in the wiring of the regulatory network-early stimuli pre-induce genes that would be needed for later ones, yet later stimuli only induce genes needed to cope with them. Our work indicates that environmental anticipation is an adaptive trait that was repeatedly selected for during evolution and thus may be ubiquitous in biology.

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Crossref · 10.1038/nature08112

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  • The glucose tolerant phenotype was due to an in-frame deletion in the glucose regulator MTH1, which led to altered stability of the MTH1 encoded protein.

    “Subsequently, it was discovered that this glucose tolerant phenotype was due to an in-frame deletion in the glucose regulator MTH1, which led to altered stability of the MTH1 encoded protein [151].”

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Authors
Mitchell, A., Romano, G. H., Groisman, B., Yona, A., Dekel, E., Kupiec, M., Dahan, O., & Pilpel, Y.
Affiliations
  • Weizmann Institute of Science (IL)
  • Tel Aviv University (IL)
  • Harvard University (US)
Corresponding author
Pilpel, Yitzhak
Venue
Nature
Published
2009-06-17
Volume
460
Issue
7252
Pages
220-224
ISSN
  • 0028-0836 (ISSN-L)
  • 1476-4687
OpenAlex
W2165081628
Cited by
581
References
28
Citations by year
2026: 26 · 2025: 28 · 2024: 31 · 2023: 47 · 2022: 38 · 2021: 32 · 2020: 40 · 2019: 35 · 2018: 57 · 2017: 37 · 2016: 30 · 2015: 30 · 2014: 27 · 2013: 30 · 2012: 30
FWCI
12.38
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
closed
Locations
  • Nature (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • RePEc: Research Papers in Economics (submittedVersion)
Funders
  • European Science Foundation
  • Israel Science Foundation
Topics
  • Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Molecular Biology › Gene Regulatory Network Analysis
  • Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Genetics › Evolution and Genetic Dynamics
  • Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Genetics › Bacterial Genetics and Biotechnology
Keywords
classical conditioning, Escherichia coli, Saccharomyces cerevisiae, gene expression regulation, regulatory networks, adaptive evolution, conditioned response, memory loss, fitness, gut microbiota, yeast fermentation
MeSH terms
Adaptation, Physiological, Carbon, Environment, Escherichia coli, Biological Evolution, Fermentation, Gene Expression Regulation, Lactose, Maltose, Osmotic Pressure, Saccharomyces cerevisiae, Time Factors, Oxidative Stress, Heat-Shock Response, Cell Respiration, Genomics, Carbohydrate Metabolism

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