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Mutational meltdown of putative microbial altruists in Streptomyces coelicolor colonies

Author

Listed:
  • Zheren Zhang

    (Leiden University, Sylviusweg 72
    University of Oxford)

  • Shraddha Shitut

    (Leiden University, Sylviusweg 72
    Origins Center, Nijenborgh 7)

  • Bart Claushuis

    (Leiden University, Sylviusweg 72)

  • Dennis Claessen

    (Leiden University, Sylviusweg 72)

  • Daniel E. Rozen

    (Leiden University, Sylviusweg 72)

Abstract

In colonies of the filamentous multicellular bacterium Streptomyces coelicolor, a subpopulation of cells arises that hyperproduces metabolically costly antibiotics, resulting in a division of labor that increases colony fitness. Because these cells contain large genomic deletions that cause massive reductions to individual fitness, their behavior is similar to altruistic worker castes in social insects or somatic cells in multicellular organisms. To understand these mutant cells’ reproductive and genomic fate after their emergence, we use experimental evolution by serially transferring populations via spore-to-spore transfer for 25 cycles, reflective of the natural mode of bottlenecked transmission for these spore-forming bacteria. We show that in contrast to wild-type cells, putatively altruistic mutant cells continue to decline in fitness during transfer while they lose more fragments from their chromosome ends. In addition, the base-substitution rate in mutants increases roughly 10-fold, possibly due to mutations in genes for DNA replication and repair. Ecological damage, caused by reduced sporulation, coupled with DNA damage due to point mutations and deletions, leads to an inevitable and irreversible type of mutational meltdown in these cells. Taken together, these results suggest the cells arising in the S. coelicolor division of labor are analogous to altruistic reproductively sterile castes of social insects.

Suggested Citation

  • Zheren Zhang & Shraddha Shitut & Bart Claushuis & Dennis Claessen & Daniel E. Rozen, 2022. "Mutational meltdown of putative microbial altruists in Streptomyces coelicolor colonies," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 13(1), pages 1-9, December.
  • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:13:y:2022:i:1:d:10.1038_s41467-022-29924-y
    DOI: 10.1038/s41467-022-29924-y
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. S. D. Bentley & K. F. Chater & A.-M. Cerdeño-Tárraga & G. L. Challis & N. R. Thomson & K. D. James & D. E. Harris & M. A. Quail & H. Kieser & D. Harper & A. Bateman & S. Brown & G. Chandra & C. W. Che, 2002. "Complete genome sequence of the model actinomycete Streptomyces coelicolor A3(2)," Nature, Nature, vol. 417(6885), pages 141-147, May.
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