Emergent cooperation in microbial metabolism.
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ABSTRACT:
SUBMITTER: Wintermute EH
PROVIDER: S-EPMC2964121 | biostudies-literature | 2010 Sep
REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature
Publications
Emergent cooperation in microbial metabolism.
Wintermute Edwin H EH Silver Pamela A PA
Molecular systems biology 20100901
Mixed microbial communities exhibit emergent biochemical properties not found in clonal monocultures. We report a new type of synthetic genetic interaction, synthetic mutualism in trans (SMIT), in which certain pairs of auxotrophic Escherichia coli mutants complement one another's growth by cross-feeding essential metabolites. We find significant metabolic synergy in 17% of 1035 such pairs tested, with SMIT partners identified throughout the metabolic network. Cooperative phenotypes show more gr ...[more]
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