Pattern formation by a cell surface-associated morphogen in Myxococcus xanthus
TL;DR
When starving, these 'wolf pack' bacteria consolidate into 100,000-cell cities via contact-dependent signaling. No central plan—just local handshakes.
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Documents the molecular mechanism behind density-dependent multicellular development in bacteria—a model system for understanding when and how organizations should consolidate versus disperse during resource scarcity. Shows that pattern formation requires only simple behavioral switches triggered by local contact, not central planning.
Key Findings from Jelsbak & Søgaard-Andersen (2002)
- Starvation triggers transition from solitary hunting to coordinated fruiting body formation in M. xanthus
- C-signal requires direct cell-cell contact to transmit—a contact-dependent quorum sensing mechanism
- C-signal modulates three behaviors: increased speed, longer gliding intervals, decreased reversal frequency
- Fruiting bodies contain approximately 100,000 cells each, formed from previously unstructured populations
- Pattern formation occurs without external cues—cells self-organize based on local signaling alone
- Spores within fruiting bodies survive years of starvation, desiccation, and high temperatures