Pseudomonas syringae socially-induced swimming motility requires the
molybdenum cofactor
Abstract
Social interactions among bacteria can induce behaviors that affect
their fitness and influence how complex communities assemble. Here we
report a new socially-induced motility behavior that we refer to as
baited expansion in Pseudomonas syringae pv. tomato DC3000 (
Pst DC3000), a plant pathogenic bacterium. We found Pst
DC3000 displayed strongly-induced swimming motility towards nearby
colonies of Dickeya dianthicola or Escherichia coli. We
developed a controlled system to visualize and characterize the
development of baited expansion. Our results provide evidence that
baited expansion behavior occurs in response to a chemical gradient
established and maintained by the bait colony. We also found this
behavior correlated with distinct transcriptional profiles and
identified molybdenum cofactor (Moco) and a Moco-utilizing
oxidoreductase as crucial factors facilitating the baited expansion
behavior.