Promoter architecture dictates cell-to-cell variability in gene expression

• DOI: 10.1126/science.1255301
• Publication Date: 2014-12-19T08:12:06Z
• Authors: Daniel L. Jones; Robert C. Brewster; Rob Phillips
• Keywords: Transcription

Variability in gene expression among genetically identical cells has emerged as a central preoccupation the study of regulation; however, divide exists between predictions molecular models prokaryotic transcriptional regulation and genome-wide experimental studies suggesting that this variability is indifferent to underlying regulatory architecture. We constructed set promoters Escherichia coli which promoter strength, transcription factor binding copy numbers are systematically varied, used messenger RNA (mRNA) fluorescence situ hybridization observe how these changes affected expression. Our parameter-free predicted observed variability; hence, details dictate mRNA expression, noise specifically tunable thus represents an evolutionarily accessible phenotypic parameter.