Université de Fribourg

An analog to digital converter controls bistable transfer competence development of a widespread bacterial integrative and conjugative element

Carraro, Nicolas ; Richard, Xavier ; Sulser, Sandra ; Delavat, Franc¸ois ; Mazza, Christian ; van der Meer, Jan Roelof

In: eLife, 2020, vol. 9, p. e57915

Conjugative transfer of the integrative and conjugative element ICEclc in Pseudomonas requires development of a transfer competence state in stationary phase, which arises only in 3–5% of individual cells. The mechanisms controlling this bistable switch between non-active and transfer competent cells have long remained enigmatic. Using a variety of genetic tools and epistasis experiments in...