Intercellular communication has been studied in detail in Myxococcus xanthus. Review the life cycle of this developmentally complex microbe and indicate at what points during this process intercellular signaling molecules might be exchanged and the message they would convey.
Intercellular communication has been studied in detail in Myxococcus xanthus. Review the life cycle of this developmentally complex microbe and indicate at what points during this process intercellular signaling molecules might be exchanged and the message they would convey.
Myxococcus xanthus is a predatory bacterium where cells work together to colonize new territory and invade colonies and lyse prey .
Life cycle:
1)cells are usually found on solid substrates, when nutrients are present - groups of cells (swarms) grow ,divide and move outward in search of prey .
2) on starvation- cells aggregate at discrete foci to form mounds and macroscopic fruiting bodies.
3) The rod cells in fruiting bodies undergo morphogenesis and form spores( spherical) that are metabolically resistant to dedication and temperature and inactive.
4)peripheral rods remain outside the fruiting bodies and move in search for prey
5)when nutrient become available, spores germinate and complete the life cycle.
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