Escape band in Escherichia coli chemotaxis in opposing attractant and nutrient gradients

• DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1808200116
• Publication Date: 2019-01-24T02:09:48Z
• Authors: Xuanqi Zhang; Guangwei Si; Yiming Dong; Kaiyue Chen; Qi Ouyang; Chunxiong Luo; Yuhai Tu
• Keywords: Nutrient density; Concentration gradient

Significance Not all nutrient molecules act as attractant signals, and not attractants are good nutrients. Here, we study behaviors of bacterial cells in an environment with competing sources: One has a strong but poor nutrient, the other rich weak attractant. We find that, although initially attracted toward attractant, opposing gradient generated by consumption eventually becomes dominant when cell density reaches critical value. The then form band escaping “trap” migrating nutrient. Our shows that combination growth chemotaxis allows to source complex environments conflicting sensory cues.