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Haloarchaea swim slowly for optimal chemotactic efficiency in low nutrient environments

Author

Listed:
  • Katie L. Thornton

    (University of York)

  • Jaimi K. Butler

    (Westminster College)

  • Seth J. Davis

    (University of York
    Henan University)

  • Bonnie K. Baxter

    (Westminster College)

  • Laurence G. Wilson

    (University of York)

Abstract

Archaea have evolved to survive in some of the most extreme environments on earth. Life in extreme, nutrient-poor conditions gives the opportunity to probe fundamental energy limitations on movement and response to stimuli, two essential markers of living systems. Here we use three-dimensional holographic microscopy and computer simulations to reveal that halophilic archaea achieve chemotaxis with power requirements one hundred-fold lower than common eubacterial model systems. Their swimming direction is stabilised by their flagella (archaella), enhancing directional persistence in a manner similar to that displayed by eubacteria, albeit with a different motility apparatus. Our experiments and simulations reveal that the cells are capable of slow but deterministic chemotaxis up a chemical gradient, in a biased random walk at the thermodynamic limit.

Suggested Citation

  • Katie L. Thornton & Jaimi K. Butler & Seth J. Davis & Bonnie K. Baxter & Laurence G. Wilson, 2020. "Haloarchaea swim slowly for optimal chemotactic efficiency in low nutrient environments," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 11(1), pages 1-9, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:11:y:2020:i:1:d:10.1038_s41467-020-18253-7
    DOI: 10.1038/s41467-020-18253-7
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    Cited by:

    1. Christina Kurzthaler & Suvendu Mandal & Tapomoy Bhattacharjee & Hartmut Löwen & Sujit S. Datta & Howard A. Stone, 2021. "A geometric criterion for the optimal spreading of active polymers in porous media," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 12(1), pages 1-10, December.

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